Mumsnet Talk

Which is the correct spelling? I've always used Grandad but my mother is sure it's Granddad. All the cards in the shops seem to spell it with one 'd'.

One 'd'.
Looks ridiculous with 2, imho.

One D.

I thought it was one 'd', I agree it looks ridiculous with two. I only questioned it because my mother is usually always spot on with anything to do with spelling. I'll be sure to put her right!

Grandad just looks right and it is therefore the correct one!

I think your mother is right! You don't have granmothers, granfathers, granmas - but then, when was anything logical in this language. It does look stupid though with two ds.

Indeed littlefrog, that's her justification for the spelling and it does make sense.

I always use two 'd's. I did look it up once as DH thought I was wrong. Both are correct apparently.

Ahh, so we're both right! I imagine the original spelling was Granddad which gradually turned into the now more popular grandad.

I have never, ever seen Granddad before,

My FIL insists on Grand-Dad.

Plonker!

Grandad's a bit of an odd one though. We don't have a Grandmum to go with it so you never know we might have spelt it Granmum...

Grandad

So is it also Grandaughter as opposed to granddaughter? Again my mum favours the 'dd' version!

I always use two Ds. To me "granddad" = grand dad, "grandad" = gran dad, which just seems silly. You wouldn't write "granfather" or "granma" would you?

Nelly - I agree

Granddad is spelt with "dd" in the middle (see Fowler's Modern English usage and the Oxford Manual of Style, which states: granddad (not grandad, grand-dad). Misspelt words creep into the language through constant corruption.