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Spelling is a set of conventions for written language regarding how graphemes should correspond to the sounds of spoken language. [1] Spelling is one of the elements of orthography, and highly standardized spelling is a prescriptive element. Spellings originated as transcriptions of the sounds of speech according to the alphabetic principle.
programme – program: In British English, the spelling program can be used for computer program. In all other cases, programme is invariably used. storey – story: a story is a tale; outside of the US, upper floors of buildings are spelt storey. [14] theatre – theater: Many uses of either spelling can be found in American English.
English had also borrowed large numbers of words from French, and kept their French spellings. The spelling of Middle English is very irregular and inconsistent, with the same word being spelled in different ways, sometimes even in the same sentence. However, these were generally much better guides to the then-pronunciation than modern English ...
Some usages identified as American English are common in British English; e.g., disk for disc. A few listed words are more different words than different spellings: "aeroplane/airplane", "mum/mom". See also: American and British English differences, Wikipedia:List of common misspellings and Wikipedia:Manual of Style#National varieties of English
When more than one variant spelling exists within a national variety of English, the most commonly used current variant should usually be preferred, except where the less common spelling has a specific usage in a specialized context, e.g., connexion in Methodist connexionalism.
The American spelling, akin to Greek, is the earliest known spelling in English. [164] It was preferred by Fowler, and is used by many Canadians, where it is the earlier form. [12] Sceptic also pre-dates the European settlement of the US and it follows the French sceptique and Latin scepticus.
The lists of common spelling mistakes linked below are used to correct typographical errors throughout Wikipedia. Each entry lists a typo, followed by the correct spelling in parentheses; clicking on the typo will search for it throughout Wikipedia. See Wikipedia:Typo for information on and coordination of spellchecking work.
The use of modified letters (e.g. those with accents or other diacritics) in article titles is neither encouraged nor discouraged; when deciding between versions of a word that differ in the use or non-use of modified letters, follow the general usage in reliable sources that are written in the English language (including other encyclopedias and reference works).