spelling was: Re: which language

[Samuel Mize <smize@imagin.net>]

john barnes <jgpb@jbinfo.demon.co.uk> wrote:
> And there's another word. I note that in the US the past participle
> of spell seems to be spelt as spelled. And surprising to me my SOD
> gives spelled first. However, my copy of The English Language by
> Prof Meicklejohn, the 1895 (11th) edition gives it as just spelt.

So I suppose we in the USA will just have to SOD off.  :-)


> And similarly I gather that sleeped is used in the US for slept. My
> SOD doesn't even mention sleeped.
> 
> How about dreamed and dreamt? I would only use dreamed in a poetic
> context. Ditto learned/learnt, weeped/wept etc.

I've never seen "sleeped" or "learnt" over here, that I recall
(Kansas and NE Texas areas).  I think we'd consider the "t" form
to be more formal, poetic or high-falutin'.

Well, no use crying over spilled spelt.

Best,
Sam Mize

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Samuel Mize -- smize@imagin.net (home email) -- Team Ada
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