Why I suppose the Merriam Webster Dictionary is the Worst Thing to Happen to Modern English

[sjoes006]

That’s how I feel too

I’ll start with admitting my predisposition, many words this dictionary decides to alter are borrowed from French and changing from double “ll” to one “l” seems all but pointless other than setting Americans apart. It leaves many people trying to learn confused. And those speaking proper English looking sometimes silly to some Americans.

“Webster completed his dictionary during his year abroad in 1825 in Paris, and at the University of Cambridge. His 1820s book contained 70,000 words, of which about 12,000 had never appeared in a dictionary before. As a spelling reformer, Webster believed that....”

Doesn’t matter what the fool believed, it didn’t take, it only confused people.

I honestly can only see it as another measure for The United States to set itself apar, which is kind of a really bullheaded and stupid reason to try and change a language.

I honestly only use Oxford English if the word is from French and try not to for other deviations which leaves me always somehow wrong.

Cancellation is always “cancellation” but if it is “canceled” I use “cancelled”. Both are correct. One is more correct.

[James_R]

What point are you trying to make? American English has slight variances from British English, this we know and there are loan words from French, Latin, and Greek. So what? Language evolves and changes over time and there is nothing wrong with natural adjustment.

I suppose your argument is Webster made a dictionary for Americans and US spelling seemingly has no basis for its difference apart from the US wanting to set itself apart linguistically from the UK. In a sense the US engaged in some form of linguistic nationalism. Again, does it matter in this case? I see it from a historic perspective; in 1800s the US was a new nation whose people came from many different nationalities. A new common lexicon was required and there needed to be a break from it's former colonial master, the UK, so enter Webster.

I am American but lived in the UK for a year for work and then did 2 Masters degrees at British universities. One of those Masters was at Oxford, which as a result means often I can't remember which spelling to use. I also use the Oxford dictionary because it's the one from my alma mater. None of my education or experience lead me to say one spelling or the other is 'more correct' than the other. Both are acceptable, I just adjust to the situation because in spite of how I believe or which spelling I prefer, time marches on and language will continue to change.

[sjoes006]

Yes on most of the above. But no, I can usually go either way in spelling with British people and most Americans take it on the “ll”.

Mostly it upsets me because I’m a French speaker by birth at various level through my Mom but I had to study in university to really learn how to write well in French. I spent years in between NY, Ireland, France and England in my 20’s for work.

Many words in French do have just one “L” on the end and what not. I don’t like having to stop to think and if I’m going to use one writing style I must stick to it.

But mostly, THE REST OF THE English SPEAKING WORLD agrees on the majority of these spellings.

The IS is an asshole having to make these changes and, yes, it was intentional to isolate and set apart.

Tell you what, if the US will adopt the metric system all is forgive. Lol

[James_R]

Not even the British fully adopted the metric system. They measure body weight in stone, distance between cities in miles, and vehicle speed in miles per hour. Perhaps one reason they voted for Brexit? Here in my house and on my phone I use Celsius to measure temperature, which does tend to irritate my American friends and of course partners I've had. I don't like metric otherwise and find it confusing.

Getting back to spelling, the British are a polite people generally and would not point out a spelling 'mistake' unless they were having a deliberate go at you. The Americans would point out spelling of a word because they would feel they are helping. This is a cultural difference between the Americans and our British cousins. Just learn to adapt as I did and embrace the peculiarity of another culture. If the world all spelled the same it would be a boring place.

[BaileyisDarcy]

Metric confusing... there's 10mm in a cm. there's a 100 cm in a metre, there's 1000 metres a km.

There are 12 inches in a ft, there are 3 feet in a yard (honestly had no idea what a 'yard' was before now) and 1760 yards in a mile!

... um... What? Someone explain to me how those numbers make more sense than 10 in a hundred and a hundred in a thousand.

[James_R]

When I say confusing I understand the concept of the system; what I don't have is a perception of that distance or weight. I have a perception of a mile, inch, yard, or foot and how much a pound weighs. I was raised on the English system and have a conceptual understanding of those units. I don't for metric even though yes it is a base 10 system and I understand how it works.

[sjoes006]

@BaileyisDarcy metric is NOT confusing. That’s why the entire first world uses it as a universal standard.

[BaileyisDarcy]

So... How you measure a metre, you take a step. Thats literally it. I can measure a cm aproximately, by the width of my ring finger (granted i have small fingers)

You can't visualise the distance because you didn't grow up with the system, same as i have zero clue how long a foot is and am vonstantly looking up inches to cm conversions.

[Leafpool2]

If your main complaint is that it has too many words borrowed from french I have some news for you about the English language and latin

[sjoes006]

Not my complaint at all! :)

Shows that we may be new friends. My mother’s first language is French.

About half of the words in English come from French. This is why I get very upset when American English decides for no reason to change spellings.

If someone tells me I’m spelling a word wrong because I spell it the common way in French and English, more or less, I get a little nerved.

I take no pride in being a good speller, I’m not.

I don’t like being told that I need to use only American spelling on many words from French.

My arguments on this subject are usually with people typing copy of my contract wording. The contract is bound and presented by London so I tell them they must use London phrase, wording and spelling when issuing documents.

[N192K001]

Agreed.

Personally, I prefer the Oxford and Cambridge.

[sjoes006]

I mean, at least let’s be consistent.

[Kenni]

If it makes you feel better not that many people know of it

[Ghostwalker]

I prefer urban dictionary. That shit speaks the truth. 😛

[ATuairiscean]

Very informative - I never knew any of that

[AlexEfron]

I actually prefer Webster's to Oxford

[sjoes006]

Of course you do, American English is more tradable as a commerce and your Indian.

Most Asians prefer to learn American English. But that doesn’t mean the dictionary is justified. Evolution of language should be natural.

I also take equal issue with the french council trying to keep English tech words like internet put out their language.

[ThisAndThat]

I love that book, I've read it at least twice.

[IlyaTheImpaler]

lol that's hilarious

[Secretgardenblood]

Nice take. .