Errors or changes in American English?

Hi yugasini, there ccertainly are a lot of differences. Many more than I thought. Read through the responses and you will be amazed.

hi colmuc, thanks for the comment good day

Young? Well compared to some I guess Oh yes the 'z' thingy - now is that either American or British I wonder or more likely a lazy mistake? I may be completely out of touch but the only 'f' word I can think of has 4 letters not 5 but don't cause problems here trying to enlighten me. Maybe I never learnt it before moving

Hi Young lady, Thanks for your response which is greatly appreciated. Like you I don't want to correct anyone personally but I am totally confused by what is now right or wrong in an educated American's view. Hopefully somebody will clarify the examples I gave. "Center" was one of the first differences I became aware of then I often noticed a "z" where there should be an "S". (Eg "Realized"). There are many other examples like neighbour/neighbor, favourite/favorite, honourable/honorable and I see more almost every day. There is also a great deal of confusion over different meanings of the same word. Chips, biscuit and purse all are totally different in America from my understanding. The best one of all is the five letter word starting with "f" that would require a " mature only" tag to explain. I had a really embarassing moment with that one!

Hi Alice,, I am amazed at some of the things coming out of this discussion. In my version of English the word is realise and when I was at school realize did not exist. It has become the accepted American version and now seemingly, from what you say, an alternative in English.

Hi catdla, I answered your comment above before I saw your response here. Within the Uk there are also many variations of pronunciation but most people know what is correct and would stick to the same wayof spelling. At least they used to but from what you are telling and what I am seeing on a daily basis it seems that "enyting gos" ! One of the mistakes I regularly make is mix up here and hear because they sound the same but when I later read what I have written I cringe. Again many thatnks for an outstanding contribution to this discussion.

Oops another mistake! I meant to say "thanks". Sorry.

Hi Hannah, thanks for responding. There are a lot of spelling differences so when you are spaeaking it is not so noticable. American version is usually easier and more logical. A word in English can have a totally different meaning when used by an American and that can lead to complications.

I find it sometimes difficult to understand when it is a mistake or not because how can we be sure whether a user has learnt British English or American English? They are several occasions when both or either could be correct

Oftenly is actually a word. It's found in the urban dictionary and is short for 'often times'.http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=oftenly The most difficult thing about English, British or American, is that both are so fluid. Words that yesterday were not words, if used often enough, become words and are adopted into various dictionaries. Read almost any really old book and you will find words that existed when it was written, but don't exist today. All of the various dictionaries (Oxford, Merriam-Webster, etc.) put out annual lists of what has been added and in some cases, dropped. For example, wysiwyg (pronounced wizzywig), short for 'What you see is what you get' is included in some dictionaries. 'Purloined', meaning to steal, is no longer in many dictionaries.I've been reading a lot of books by British authors and I'm seeing lots of new words (to me), and different spelling rules. This morning I found the word 'funnily', which in America would just be 'funny'. I've always been taught that Dr. is an abbreviation for doctor, with a period at the end. Several times I've come across it in books without the period, meaning (to me) that it's accepted as a stand alone word of the same meaning. Different acceptable spellings can also cause confusion. For example, realize here in America is realise in Britain. I never have to stop and wonder why English (in any form) is such a difficult language to learn.

I don't like correcting anyone because they could be people who do not have English or American English as a mother tongue and I can only admire their attempt to write in a foreign language. In addition I am no longrer sure sometimes what is right or wrong! Since you are obviously happy to be corrected I will tell you that there is no such word as "oftenly". Just use "often". Thanks for responding.

Hi always-natalia, there are many differences like that but at least the meaning is still clear. I have an American lady friend and she confuses me sometimnes with her expressions. Mind you, my English with a strong Scottish accent and sometimes old Scottish terms does not make it easy for her.

Hi Bevsue, Thank you for your interesting response. I think it is very sad that the standard of eduction has fallen but I realise times are changing and priorities move with the changes. Nobody seems to be ashamed of their lack of writing skills.

Hi Poison-Girl, I can accept that differences in languages develop over time but like you the "should of" really annoys me. No excuse for this blatant error.

Again I learn something new on here. So a pun is 16 oz's cool didnt know that. But then to I dont know any Scottish oh but now I do! and I will try my best not to use should of

hi Lakota, it seems you can not get away from it. It is changing so fast that you don't know what you are running from and a "pun" by the way is a Scottish word for 16 ounces! I have admitted that I will have to accept my English(and my Scottish) is old fashioned but please, please help me fight against the "should of" and "could of" versions. That is stetching my willingness to accept change beyond the limits. As always, nice to hear from you.

Hi Debs-place, thanks for your comments. Maybe the next time I see "should of" being used I will ask the writer why they are doing this. Answer, if I get one, might be interesting!

Thank you for responding, Heihong, you are doing well to write in English. No one will criticise you if you do make a few mistakes but people who have been raised in an English speaking country should be able to do much better, Internet is certainly playing a big part in language changes but it gives us an opportunity to communicate worldwide and learn more about each other.

Colmuc, you're assuming that they actually paid attention in or bothered going to class...

Hi hanasays,thanks for responding. I see where it's coming from but were they not taught in school what was correct. In Scotland as a child we spoke very differently from what we were taught in school but knew when we had to stick to proper English. The equivalent to "I should have known" was something like "A shid a kent" in playground terms but never when we were writing! I would be interested to get a comment from one of the "should of" writers.

Thanks start20090509, interesting comment. Race and status have a major impact on a language. All the best to you too.

Hi liuchen63, you have probably got it right. I think a lot of the differences did come from mistakes that happened so often they were gradually accepted as being correct. Problem is correct English will confuse many people especially our American friends and they confuse us with their version. As you can read here English is changing at an ever increasing rate and we are no longer sure what is right and what is wrong.

Hi p3halliwel, thanks for your response. I have already accepted that the changes will continue and "English" become ever more diverse. My style will not change though but I am in an ever diminishing group.

Hi winewhisky, when I was working I travelled to many countries and the biggest language problems I had were in the USA. When I went into a shop and asked for something I was asked if I could repeat my request in English! I ordered a meal and asked to have chips with it but they gave me potato crisps! I well understand your problem. Check my discussion at the following to see the problems I had with my American lady friend and discover the difference in meaning of the 5 letter word beginning with "F"?. www.mylot.com/w/discussions/1957485.aspx

Hi jenInTN, ain't that an interesting one!. I have never thought about that word and although I have used it since my childhood I would never write it. I think it is possibly beacause of Paul Robeson singing "It ain't necessarily so" and it is used in other songs. The regional variations of words used and the pronunciation existed when I was a boy in Scotland but we were all taught the same English in school and forced to write it correctly. Now there is freedom of choice in how you write it as well as say it. Thank you for your interesting and informative response.

Hi mermaidivy, I c what u mean! Sorry , could not resist that. I was trying to establish if the examples I gave wer mistakes or a new way of writing things. It seems they were mistakes but are being made so often they will soon be accepted as a correct version. Thanks for responding.