Words With Two Spellings
- Have you ever wavered between two possible spellings of a word, only to discover there are actually two valid versions? American English has a lot of oddities and almost as many variations. Sometimes different spellings are the result of a word’s origins in another language. Other times, the differences are regional or the origins of the variants are unknown.
To E or Not to E
Several words have variants where an “e” is either dropped or not, when adding a suffix.- Judgment or Judgement
- Acknowledgment or Acknowledgement
While the versions without the “e” are more common, and some people consider the e-inclusive version a misspelling, both are considered correct usage by many major dictionaries (ours included).
Dig up the origin of this spelling…
Archaeology can also be spelled as archeology. While archaeology is the more traditional spelling, according to the Society for American Archaeology, a change in printing processes by the U.S. Government Printing Office in the 1890s changed the combined “ae” gliding dipthong character to a single “e” and introduced the alternate spelling.Spellings run amok. Or amuck.
The word amok is a Malay word, sometimes spelled amuk, which indicates a furious attack or frenzied rampage. While amok is the most common spelling in English, the variation amuck can also be seen. (References from the 1700s indicate yet another variant – amock.)And, not to confuse things, but there is also a South-East Asian curry known as amok.
We moustache you a question.
Is it moustache or mustache? Moustache is the older spelling, derived from the French word and used commonly in British English. While mustache is considered the American spelling, both versions are seen in similar quantities in the U.S.Donut argue about how to spell doughnut.
Donut is an informal version of the word doughnut, but has found its way into common usage. Both are acceptable. Both are tasty.What do you call the flute player?
In the U.S. the term flutist is used more often than the alternate, flautist. The word flutist came to English first, originating from a French word. However, the word flautist, more similar to the Italian term, was introduced in the 19th century.Feel free to use either word, or avoid the controversy and just say flute player.
Just say BBQ!
Do you barbeque or do you barbecue? The debate over the ideal spelling of this word is almost as heated as the discourse over the best way to make this beloved food. The most accepted form is barbecue, but given the casual style of most BBQ joints, barbeque and even barb-b-q are legit!Who advises you?
Do you have an advisor or an adviser? Someone who advises or counsels you can be either one. Some people prefer advisor for its consistency with the word advisory; while others like the word adviser because it keeps the e from advise. Whichever you choose to use, just be careful who you trust for advice!Cutting it short
You’d think the word axe was short enough, but the shortened form – ax – has gained popularity and now both are suitable to use in American English. Too short for you? Feel free to use hatchet. Of course, both ax and axe are also great for using up your “x” in word games.Related articles:
