Questions tagged [orthography]
This tag is for questions concerning the written representation of the English language, especially spelling and word breaks (including hyphenation).
3
votes
1answer
36 views
Is the edh ð always curved, or can it be straight?
I'm wondering about the orthography of the old english edh ð. It is always drawn (lowercase) as a curved d with the line through it. But I'm wondering if it would be acceptable to just have it be a ...
0
votes
0answers
32 views
English Dictionary in one text file [migrated]
Is there a free dictionary in one text file or in a database format that I can download please?
Many thanks.
3
votes
1answer
32 views
How homogenous was Old English spelling?
Are varying spellings available, or was Old English rather uniform, as far as the sources show?
Variant spelling may have indicated different verbal dialects, but written dialects, involuntary eye ...
2
votes
0answers
37 views
“Testbed” or “test bed”? [duplicate]
"A testbed is a platform for conducting rigorous, transparent, and replicable testing of scientific theories, computational tools, and new technologies" (Wikipedia).
While Wikipedia seems to prefer "...
0
votes
0answers
14 views
(Bodybuilding) Squat and squats, curl and curls, row and rows, lunge and lunges etc
I'm looking at bodybuilding exercises and I see that some of them named: barbell bicep curl, cable bicep curl, concentration curl but at the same time: crucifix curls, hammer curls, spider curls. Are '...
0
votes
1answer
25 views
nonclassical vs. non-classical
I've seen both spellings many times, i.e. on Wikipedia, Dictionary.com and dozens of papers. I was wondering if there is a difference between US, Canadian, Australian and British spelling or if you ...
0
votes
1answer
68 views
Why do people leave out the “r” on the word your? [closed]
I have noticed that a common error in typed documents (Including my own) is that often the letter "r" is left off the word your.
Does anybody have any idea why?
I do note that sometimes when ...
14
votes
1answer
733 views
Difference between /əʳ/ and /ɚ/
Consider the word 'future.' Cambridge Dictionary shows the transcriptions /ˈfjuːtʃəʳ/ and /ˈfjuːtʃɚ/. Are they different?
1
vote
3answers
130 views
Is it ladle or laddle? [closed]
The author of a book I'm working on insists that a ladle, a serving spoon for soup or stew, is spelled laddle. A quick Google search pulled results of ladle, but most shopping sites and Youtube ...
-1
votes
1answer
48 views
Why is “poison” used in the word “food poisoning”? [closed]
The word "poison" has stronger feeling but we used in the "food poisoning".
According to Merriam - Webster online dictionary, definition of "food poisoning":
an acute gastrointestinal disorder ...
-1
votes
1answer
87 views
Journalist cum Researcher - without hyphens [closed]
As seen here.
I’m a WordPress Journalist cum Researcher who can turn the torrent of words into something of an acceptable length.
Does the use of the word "cum", assuming from latin, work in this ...
23
votes
4answers
4k views
What is the plural of the noun “go” (as in “have a go”)? [closed]
If I were to try to achieve something you could say I "had a go".
If I tried it multiple times, how would I write that down?
I had many goes
or
I had many go's
or
I had many gos
3
votes
4answers
154 views
“Naïve” yet “naivety”?
I am used to spelling "naïve" thus - "naïve". I am also used to Microsoft Word automatically changing "naive" to "naïve". Hence, I was surprised when it didn't change "naivety" to "naïvety". I then ...
0
votes
1answer
57 views
Is travell still an accepted variant of travel?
The word travell caught my eye recently.
It seems it's an archaic version of travel.
But is it still in use ?
AmEng traveled/traveling
BrEng travelled/travelling
But both AmEng and BrEng use travel ...
2
votes
1answer
155 views
Correct spelling of 'timestamp': one or two words?
Something I'm wondering about is the correct usage of the word(s) 'timestamp'. I don't know whether it's one (timestamp) or two (time stamp) words, and googling for the answer doesn't help me in ...
1
vote
0answers
24 views
Pipelineable/pipelinable? [duplicate]
In computer science, pipelining is a common technique used to increase the throughput of processing units, both in the context of hardware and software.
When describing a context that are amenable to ...
1
vote
2answers
38 views
To improve the carbon footprint vs. to reduce the carbon footprint
Y'all know the carbon footprint, describing the CO2 emissions released into the atmosphere by a company etc.. I am pretty unsure, if it needs to be to "improve" or to "reduce" the carbon footprint. ...
1
vote
2answers
126 views
The use of “en-” vs “em-” as a verb prefix
The prefix en- (from French) has a variant spelling em-. (This is also associated, although I believe imperfectly, with the use of the sound /m/ in the pronunciation of the prefix.) Although the ...
-1
votes
2answers
67 views
I need to know what would you call someone that “Believes everyone is the same” such as addicts/alcholics [closed]
I hate STIGMA , I am bipolar and a recovering addict. I get treated the same as someone who is still being destructive.
I AM SICK OF PEOPLE JUDGING ME AND NOT GIVING ME CHANCES because the term "...
0
votes
1answer
40 views
Was ''millionth'' once spelled as ''millioneth''?
I've seen ''millioneth'' a few times in older books. Dictionaries seem to all say ''millionth''. Is ''millioneth'' simply incorrect or could it be that it is an old non-standard spelling.
0
votes
1answer
85 views
Why does “inferred” have two Rs while “inference” doesn't?
Earlier today I spelled "infered" with one R and my handy editor promptly added some red squiggles.
Acknowledging the error of my ways I added the missing R happy carried only writing my document.
...
0
votes
1answer
36 views
Spelling of own method in publication
I am about to publish my machine learning method which I called "Run-clustering" (obviously I use a different word than "Run", I use it as a place holder here, since my paper is not published yet). I ...
0
votes
2answers
69 views
“do you have” pronounced [djuv] d'you've
I hear contraction d'you've from "do you have" quite often, broadly [djuv], yet google throws back no result for such a phonetic word. I'd like to know how it's orthographically represented.
For ...
0
votes
1answer
75 views
Why is “Rectangled” not accepted usage? [closed]
Why is “Rectangled” not accepted usage (MS Word (and MS Outlook) always consider it a mistake)?
For example, here is the usage in a sentence:
Select the “CTF” entry (rectangled above), and then ...
-1
votes
1answer
29 views
The use of any in this sentence
I want to know if both sentences are correct :
Written permission for any such copying.
Written permission for anything such copying.
7
votes
2answers
93 views
Any advice for agentive suffixes of single-syllable words ending in y?
I got stuck on whether I should say I'm a frequent flier or flyer. I came across an article on writingexplained.com and it confirmed pretty much what I suspected, that there's no consensus on the ...
-1
votes
1answer
58 views
Where can I make a line break in “predesign”? [closed]
At which point can I make a line break in predesign?
2
votes
1answer
90 views
When to use -ial and -al in forming adjectives, like pictorial and electoral
I have some adjectives that have either -ial or -al in the end. Two duo suffixes are same in meaning.
Words sufixed with -ial:
Luxorial, pictorial, advertorial, editorial,
Words suffixed with -al:...
1
vote
0answers
29 views
Are you able to interpret the word '' in '' at this paragraph?
Paragraph :
They found that people were more honest when they were watched by eyes than when there were pictures of flowers. They put times as much money in.
0
votes
1answer
124 views
Spelling of temperature and preparation
Today, I have come up with the two confusingly-spelled words: temperature and preparation.
The 'para' in preparation, and the 'pera' in temperation, look quite similar in pronunciation when we read ...
1
vote
0answers
19 views
Use of “the Earth” or Earth? [duplicate]
I have a sentence where I'm unsure about my grammar when discussing planets:
"Branch Technology is revolutionizing the use of 3-D printing to create architectural elements and structures that will ...
11
votes
2answers
2k views
Why doesn't English spelling vary with region that much?
Even though English spelling is so irregular, native speakers still share a common writing system with little regional difference. When you refer to the moving organ in your mouth, you may pronounce ...
10
votes
4answers
709 views
Difference between “under”, “underneath”, “below” and “beneath”
It leads me to the confusion, when it comes to contradicting between some prepositions.
Today, I want to know the distinction between the two similar senses of these prepositions: under, underneath, ...
1
vote
1answer
55 views
Is it necessary to use “will” twice on the text below
Thanks for your feedback. We will make the changes and be ready for tomorrow’s call
0
votes
2answers
83 views
Is it me or does Grammarly have it wrong: “Your” vs “You're” [closed]
My friend and I are having a debate whether the following is wrong
your saying Grammarly is wrong and your smarter.
since it's the wrong your.
But Grammarly seems to not pick up on it, is it ...
3
votes
2answers
86 views
Is there any use for ¿ in English language?
I know that ¿ is used in Spanish language to make questions. But I never saw that in English language. Do we use "¿" for something in English language?
I've found info about irony ponctuation but I ...
5
votes
2answers
340 views
Is “buffeted” the AmE version of the BrE word “buffetted”?
I am referring to the use of the verb "to buffet" meaning
"(especially of wind or waves) strike repeatedly and violently; batter."
The use of "buffeted" and "buffeting" is widespread. However use ...
1
vote
0answers
25 views
I know a word when I see it , but do not know how to spell it on my own [closed]
What is it called when you know a word when you see it. But can not spell it on your own
12
votes
3answers
926 views
“Shaw” → “Shavian” – why “v”?
The spelling for the adjective derived from the name Shaw is Shavian and not Shawian. Similarly you can find Arrow → Arrovian and Harrow → Harrovian. This strikes me as odd.
First of all, I accept ...
-4
votes
1answer
425 views
initialised or initialized which one is correct spelling? [duplicate]
I have often seen initialised in lots of text, but when I want to write it in Microsoft office word, it says it was misspelled and it should be initialized instead of initialised.
so here is my ...
0
votes
3answers
125 views
“Sassanian” vs. “Sasanian”: Which one is more accurate? With one “s” or two?
Sassanian: Webster.
Sasanian: Wikipedia.
I am really confused which one is more accurate... Even the pronunciations are different.
0
votes
1answer
66 views
“Open source” or “open-source”? [duplicate]
Would you say both are correct? I have a doubt about "open-source", but I've seen it quite a lot.
Thank you.
3
votes
1answer
178 views
When do I use æ?
I've always seen this letter but didn't start learning about it until 10 minutes ago. What I was wondering most was when to use it. I have found some conflicting sources about it so if anyone could ...
1
vote
2answers
75 views
Using a designer's name or brand name as a substitute for the product itself
Example: A character owns a pair of Sophia Loren sunglasses. Before going out for the afternoon, "She drew on her Sophia Loren’s, flipped her long mane back, and tossed him a cheeky grin."
If I'm not ...
0
votes
1answer
56 views
non taxable vs non-taxable [duplicate]
Is the correct usage of the non-taxable or nontaxable? I'm not sure what the correct use is. I want to say that it is with the hyphen however it ha become a debate that this could be incorrect.
26
votes
2answers
4k views
How did words like align get a g?
One answer for Is there an etymological explanation for the silent ‘g’ in “paradigm”? mentions that words such as
align,
apophthegm,
arraign,
assign,
benign,
campaign,
consign,
deign,
design,
...
19
votes
2answers
2k views
Is there an etymological explanation for the silent ‘g’ in “paradigm”?
Whenever I come across the word paradigm, I have to make a small conscious effort not to pronounce the letter ‘g’.
In Italian, it is spelled paradigma and each letter is individually pronounced i.e. ...
0
votes
1answer
40 views
When did 'some one' turn to 'someone'?
I was recently reading a book from sometime in the first half of the 20th century and I noticed that the word ‘someone’ was spelled separately as ‘some one’.
Was there an official change at some ...
1
vote
0answers
59 views
Consistency. If I write 'recognize' with a 'z' do I have to write 'characterize' with a 'z' too?
I'm translating a book and need to keep the English orthography consistent. I'm a native 'British English' speaker. I know in British English you can often use either 'ize' or 'ise' endings. My ...
2
votes
0answers
218 views
Is “mediaeval” an outdated spelling of “medieval”?
I saw "mediaeval" on a Wikipedia page, and figuring it was a typo, edited it to "medieval", it was reverted as apparently mediaeval is the UK spelling. However, in all the dictionaries I've found from ...
