standardising spelling - classic or dud

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Some words have two spellings which are, to all intents and purposes, correct in both dictionary and general usage terms.

Do you think it is a bad idea to flip-flop between both spellings in a document you are writing? If not, why not? - I mean, they are both correct, after all.

― DV (dirtyvicar), Thursday, 24 August 2006 10:31 (nineteen years ago)

what about dipping into other languages as you write? it's not importante.

― Konal Doddz (blueski), Thursday, 24 August 2006 10:34 (nineteen years ago)

standardizing has more zing.

― Onimo (GerryNemo), Thursday, 24 August 2006 10:46 (nineteen years ago)

I ask because I found myself using both "inquiry" and "enquiry" in a work e-mail, and then wondered if this would make me look like one of those people who can't spell.

― DV (dirtyvicar), Thursday, 24 August 2006 11:10 (nineteen years ago)

But they have distinct meanings.

― Hello Sunshine (Hello Sunshine), Thursday, 24 August 2006 11:23 (nineteen years ago)

Are you sure?

― ledge (ledge), Thursday, 24 August 2006 11:25 (nineteen years ago)

Also dispatch/despatch.

Deffo stick to one spelling. Pick one, and write it over and over again until the other spelling looks silly.

― ledge (ledge), Thursday, 24 August 2006 11:26 (nineteen years ago)

No.

― Hello Sunshine (Hello Sunshine), Thursday, 24 August 2006 11:27 (nineteen years ago)

i don't think it's a coincidence that the historical moment in the West that saw the introduction "print capitalism" which ushered in the birth of the quasi-fictional "public sphere", with newspapers and national book distribution blablabla was also the moment when spelling became a "concern," somehow, and the minds of all became smaller, and swarmed with hobgoblins

― Euai Kapaui (tracerhand), Thursday, 24 August 2006 12:33 (nineteen years ago)

don't take away my foetus, faeces.

― timmy tannin (pompous), Thursday, 24 August 2006 12:51 (nineteen years ago)

Do you think it is a bad idea to flip-flop between both spellings in a document you are writing? If not, why not? - I mean, they are both correct, after all.

it's a terrible idea. it makes it look like you haven't noticed the difference/don't care/are a weirdy freaker.

as i've said elsewhere, i'm totally in favour of standardising spelling. the UK should adopt the US model. (which would make that -zing, wouldn't it?)

― grimly fiendish (grimlord), Thursday, 24 August 2006 20:10 (nineteen years ago)

DV, perhaps you suffer from Multiple Personality Disorder. You must devise a personal style sheet!

― Beth Parker (Beth Parker), Thursday, 24 August 2006 22:37 (nineteen years ago)

devise some kind of device

― Euai Kapaui (tracerhand), Thursday, 24 August 2006 22:49 (nineteen years ago)

is the advice we advise.

― Beth Parker (Beth Parker), Friday, 25 August 2006 00:51 (nineteen years ago)

it makes it look like you haven't noticed the difference/don't care/are a weirdy freaker.

what if several of these are true?

― DV (dirtyvicar), Monday, 28 August 2006 19:24 (nineteen years ago)

the UK should adopt the US model.

out of my cold dead hand!

― DV (dirtyvicar), Monday, 28 August 2006 19:25 (nineteen years ago)

You guys moan over this? You should try Dutch spelling. Urgh. They have changed it at least twice since I graduated from high school. :-(

― Nathalie (stevie nixed), Monday, 28 August 2006 19:28 (nineteen years ago)

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