Friday, October 10, 2008

Another Grey Area


Why use the preferred spelling when an alternative one fits your layout better?

15 comments:

Unknown said...

I'll bite. Should it be workforce?

Bill said...

Actually, yes, it should be "workforce," but my point was "ax."

Sub said...

My copy of the AP stylebook (admittedly it's from 2002) says 'work force'.

Pnina said...

But why use the British spelling "grey"?

Bill said...

Umm ... class?

Unknown said...

I always preferred grey, but I wasn't sure. Now I know - I have class! Cool.

Bill said...

Bueller? Anyone? Help!

Sub said...

He used 'grey' because, like 'axe', it isn't the preferred spelling in the US.

Bill said...

I'm glad one person got it.

Anonymous said...

Does anyone else find this headline... gruesome?

Skullturf Q. Beavispants said...

You're still my favourite, Bill.

Andrew said...

Wikipedia gives the same definition for both spellings, but troublingly (or would that be 'disturbingly') also says of 'axe' - "The phonic pronunciation of the work 'ask' in some New York dialects." Yikes!

JD (The Engine Room) said...

Wow, 'ax'. Really? I thought I'd come across most common American English/British English differences by now.

And I don't know who Kaine is, but I'm really worried for his workers. Couldn't he just sack them? There's no need to be violent.

On another note, the verification word I now have to type in to prove I am human is 'bumedi', which sounds like a French day of the week, but rude.

Unknown said...

So, um.. what do you s'pose they're gonna axe em?

CMPerry said...

Could have said "can" - just as hard on the workforce, but less gory. By my count, "fire" might have fit, too.
Up here in Canada, we still (try to) follow Canadian Press style, and use "axe" for the cutting tool and "grey" for the colour (yes, we use the "-our" style now, too). One that really drives me crazy is the "defence/defense," etc., difference - I think we have that one the wrong way 'round.