Are You Writing English Right?
A Global Audience
As we all have a global audience, are you 'writing English right', I mean, correctly?
How often do you find yourself on a website reading an article or blog and see words that appear to be spelled incorrectly?
When you encounter this, that is a moment when you might realize you are be being made aware that the article in question wasn’t written to conform to the version of English that is native to you. The language is English but here and there you encounter words that you are familiar with, but they just don’t look quite right; simply put; it’s the spelling.
Checking The Spelling
Maybe it just looks like someone didn’t check their spelling. Color has been spelled with a ‘u’, color; theater is spelt ‘theatre’, the color gray is spelled grey. For some, you might find yourself questioning is ‘spelled’ correct, or is ‘spelt' correct? Of course, I could have asked Is ‘spelled’ spelt correctly, or which is more correct, ‘spelled’ or ‘spelt’?
Don't We All Have A Global Audience?
The fact is most websites - including yours - are probably reaching a global audience.
I have lived in California in the United States of America for slightly more than half of my life. I was an adult when I came to California in 1984 from England where I was born, grew up, and received my education. When speaking, or talking as I might alternately say, I speak Anglo-American English with a mid-Atlantic accent, but when I write or read, as I have grandchildren on both sides of the Atlantic from whom I love getting notes, both hand-written notes and typed texts, I have to remember that some are written in England and some are written in California.
Be Aware That You Are Writing For A Global Audience
Now, it’s not just people who live in the United Kingdom (the UK) who write in British-English, it’s also people from many other countries such as Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and some countries in Africa; Kenya, Uganda, Nigeria, and South Africa as examples.
So, having opened up the topic on this blog that is intended just for WAers, how much of a topic of interest is this?
Is this you would like to see more discussion and help on, or would there be little or no interest?
Recent Comments
19
I am aware that I'm writing for a global audience.... but for the likes of me who are not English native speakers.. neither British nor American... we need a lot of practice on spelling and grammar... and endless consultation with Mr G... grammarly has me confused sometimes...~^
I just hope when I ask for a feedback on my articles... wonderful members would kindly point out and correct me of my mistakes...~^
Thank you RoseLee. Your comment has added a perspective that I was hoping would be raised but wasn't sure if it would; that of someone like you whose mother-tongue is other than English. First, let me share that I learned both French and German in school. I got to a level in French that was OK for being a tourist but never good enough to claim that I spoke French well, let alone fluently, and in German, I would get myself in difficulty all the time, so I wasn't even at tourist-level. That said, I have great respect for those who do speak a second language fluently. Here in southern California where I live, being able to speak both Spanish and English is definitely an asset.
I have some fairly substantial notes on the topic of the differences between UK English and American English, Determining what might be most helpful to single-language English speakers is in itself challenging, but now I think I should begin what is of most help to those who are bi-lingual ESL.
- Ron
Thank you Ron!~^
Notes, trainings or articles for helping bi-lingual ESL would be greatly appreciated!~^
Mr. G... Haha!! Love it. Yes, Grammarly is very helpful but can at times be confusing.
I have responded to your comments with an 'extract' from my draft notes of more on this topic but I've sent it by 'WA Messages' because it was lengthy, too long for this thread. Check your 'My Messages' 'Inbox' for it...
- Ron
I don't think using american or UK english matters, as when people read it they know that it isn't spelt wrong, just the alternative way. It reveals the origin of the post rather than appearing as a mistake.
My post was intended to get feedback on what people thought of 'alternative' spellings when reading... Thank you for your input.
I went to school in the US where I had to adapt my British English. It took some doing then. I think both ways. So it does not bother me if the writer is writing in American or British English once the English is good English.
See more comments
Hi Revansca.
I am British and naturally use British English but live in Portugal. The Portuguese have a similar challenge between European Portuguese, Brazilian and various other dialects. This is of course true for all the Eurpean countries that travelled the World over the last thousand years or so. Personally I am used to American English and have little problem with it. We are very lucky that the internet mostly uses English.
I would find it very difficult to write well in Portuguese so have a high tolerance for those whose native tongue is not English.
:-)
Richard
Great perspective. Thanks for sharing.
- Ron
Sorry Ron, I didn't answer your question ...
".. how much of a topic of interest is this?"
I think it is a very interesting topic and could well be useful for many whether they are native English speakers or any other language.
Cheers
Richard
Thank you for the follow through...
Definitely planning on a series of follow-ups... My draft notes on the topic would be much too much to pack into a single blog post.
- Ron
I look forward to them Ron.
:-)
Richard