To be a little huffy because ds has the word "apologize" on his spellings list?

[Mspontipine]

I am fanatical to the point of obsession appropriately passionate about the use of English and grammar.

This hurts

Regarding the 'Greek suffix explanation'

Yes that's always been the case

So how come we're only seeing these American spellings since the internet and mobile phone boom?

It's got bugger all to do with the Greeks and everything to do with Google

I learned it on an episode of Countdown!

I am an expat American married to an Irishman who used to (playfully) 'correct' my use of "ize".

Imagine my delight to discover as we watched together that "ize" is, in fact [are you listening, Mspontipine?] the slightly righter version .

Seven it's a damn sight more entertaining to read than the Stephen Hawking that's sitting on my bookshelf politely leafed through once.

I'm listening and learning

I meant that playfully not obnoxiously :)

I know

I'm taking it all on board - will take some mulling over! I'm certainly glad I didn't go in all guns blazing!

Liking the look of Bill Bryson's 'Mother Tongue'.

Ooh - have just checked in my Griffin Savers Oxford Dictionary and there is no mention of the "ise" version at all just the "ize" - I'm beginning to feel a less right.

OOh I do not like that feeling!!

That should be I'm beginning to feel a little less right.

Noooooooo don't relent

Ask the school what their curriculum involves

Normally it doesn't involve z type spellings lol

This is exactly why I suggested 'Mother Tongue', it's got a very good discussion re ize and ise, I would go and look for the appropriate bit but I think it's somewhere under dd2's bed and I'm not risking waking her up now!

I have to ask - do some people take agin anything that smacks of America simply because it's American? It feels a bit like this from comments. It is just as xenophobic as being sniffy about any other country, IMO.

I do not have a single problem with anything at all American, or any nationality and their languages. I am perfectly at home with fries or pommes frites - I would just like the words in the English language to be spelt how they should be spelt - not just the merry changing of spellings willy nilly or simply getting it wrong. There is no excuse for this. My objection would therefore be my son being actively taught how to spell a word incorrectly if this were the case.
I have however learned on here tonight is that "ize" is correct!

The gist is, both 'ise' and 'ize' are correct, it is an area (one of many) where our language is fluid.

It would appear that the "ize" is a little righter though. OneHandWavingFree

I'm now worring about how may "p,s" let alone the s and z always thought I could spell "that" word off pat.

YABU. I am pedantic about most spelling grammar things but I support the use of US spelling. The whole point of spelling is that we all write the same way, and I don't think that British spelling is such an important part of our culture that we need to protect it from 'imperialism'.

Well, if y'all didn't keep insisting on buying our technology which, surprise surprise has American spelling as default, and being too lazy or ignorant as to how to change it on your equipment (which takes about 2 seconds) then no wonder our spelling is taking over.

Don't blame America. Blame yourselves.

My personal annoyance is "sulfur". Someone decided that the exam boards and textbooks would go with the American version. I just can't bring myself to do it though.

YANBU!!!

sulfur???

YANBU

YANBU. DD (20/20 speller) recently told me about a spelling bee they'd had in her class.
She missed out on winning because she had put an a into paediatric. I was less than impressed. Not cross enough to complain but still...................