The joys and differences between US/CAN spelling...

[Sam and Ben 2]

There are always things coming up here and again. I will tell you that I have not succumbed to the US form of spelling and don't plan to. I think it would be hard to stop doing something after 20 years of doing it.

The other day a colleague of mine came into our office and I said, "Oh hi Spencer! Tim's been after you..."

He said, "what?"

I said, "Tim's been asking after you..."

He looked at me like a deer in headlights...until a girl at work said to me, "amanda, I don't think any of us know what you mean...is tim chasing after spencer?" I was laughing hysterically!

Haha, until I read their explanation, I had no idea where the confusion would be in what you said...

[Sprailenes 47]

I called someone a suck the other day and they looked at me all confused.

They were whining and complaining and I said: "Stop being a such a damn suck!" and they were like: "Huh?"

Maybe that's a Canadian thing also?

[Sam and Ben 2]

I called someone a suck the other day and they looked at me all confused.

They were whining and complaining and I said: "Stop being a such a damn suck!" and they were like: "Huh?"

Maybe that's a Canadian thing also?

Hrm, I call Ben a suck and he hasn't raised a fuss about it... so it must not be that different, leastwise not to him.

He's quick to prod fun at his Canadian gal when it comes to things like that!

[ashenflowers 5]

LOL This thread makes me grateful that my hubby to be in the US is actually a Canadian too.. lol

Have you guys also noticed the difference in spelling of grey/gray? That one confuses me!

I think it's fun that we have all these little differences. It's cute

[scandal 951]

I'm not saying it makes sense... I'm just saying it's in common usage in the US, and I have found myself adopting it too.

I didn't say you did. Why would you want to adopt a phrase that makes no sense?

Maybe it's because I'm just lazy and willing to be assimilated. But that's probably not it. I think it's more that it doesn't seem wrong to me ... I imagine it must be a lifetime of American TV shows and movies ... don't Seinfeld and George call for the check when they're in the coffee shop? I think they do....

That's another thing.. living so close to the US, and being bombarded by American media, I think Canadians are pretty much caught up on American culture.

Oh, there is one other difference I've noted over the years -- vinegar!! I like to put salt and vinegar on my fries. In the states people will use ketchup, but you'll get blank stares if you ask for vinegar. When I'm in Canada I often go to a Harveys and grab a handful of those plastic vinegar condiment pouches and stuff them in my pocket for use in the states when I'm at a fast food place and order french fries.

[minnew 4]

I used to live in the US so I have already had some of the experiences already mentioned! I have gotten a few funny looks from store clerks..etc..I even got dinged on homework assignments in university in the U.S. because my spell checker of course did not pick up on the "extra" U in color, honor...etc...and I forgot it was different. I guess eventually I adapt my ways whether I am here or there.

The most recent experience that my fiance and I are struggling with are the wedding invitations. I send him a template of how I will word the invitations, well he picked up on the "honour" and said it should be spelled "honor" (request the honour of your presence). What the heck am I supposed to do, send out separate invitations to US and Canadian guests? LOL. I told him I do not think the guests will pick up on it whether its spelled one way or another!

[vanee 13]

You can spell both ways.

When I'm writing an email or something else to/for an American colleague or client, I use American spelling. Same with US vocabulary. If someone's paying me to do American work, it makes sense to me to use American spelling and wording. But when I'm writing to anyone else or for any other purpose, I use Canadian spelling and vocabulary. When I'm just me, well, I'm Canadian, so I write Canadian.

[July09Bride 1]

When you're in a restaurant and want to pay at the end of your meal, do you ask the waiter for your bill, or ask him for your check?

In Canada I always used to ask for the bill. Here I ask for the check.

It is always bill. I don't even understand asking for a 'check'? It makes no sense does it?

I say cheque too... Not the type of cheque you cash, it's a different type of cheque

Yeah, I was just using uscan's spelling - I mean that is what they are asking for - the cheque - still makes no sense

I'm not saying it makes sense... I'm just saying it's in common usage in the US, and I have found myself adopting it too.

From http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/pick+up+the+tab -

pick up the tab and pick up the check

to pay the bill. Whenever we go out, my father picks up the tab. Order whatever you want. The company is picking up the check.

Regarding accents, I never thought I had a detectable Canadian accent either, but I've been stopped several times by Americans who ask me "You're from Canada, right?" I'm told it's the "out and about" that gives it away. I don't discern it myself, but clearly people can pick it out of my speech even years after I've left Canada.

Here's a discussion of the whole out and about thing...

http://www.antimoon.com/forum/2002/252.htm

For me... the blatantly obvious is the out & aout statement... but many Canadians end their sentences with on a higher note/tone... as if someone is asking a question. That was the hardest thing for me to understand. Sometimes, one can ask a question by making a statement. But, when I first met my fiance's friends, I couldn't figure out if they were telling me something or asking me something... just because their tone of voice would go up a notch or two.

That is my telling point, and many Canadians I have encountered here in the US have lost their accent and eh, but sometimes their statements end on that higher note. They can't believe I can tell. It is also my way of determining if an actor/actress is from Canada or not. Boy... does that get my fiance's blood boiling when I say someone is Canadian and it is all b/c of how they say a sentence.

[July09Bride 1]

I called someone a suck the other day and they looked at me all confused.

They were whining and complaining and I said: "Stop being a such a damn suck!" and they were like: "Huh?"

Maybe that's a Canadian thing also?

In Australia they spell it like "sook"... kinda like soot you'd find in a chimney. Perhaps another carry-over from England's glory days of ruling the world??

I used to live in the US so I have already had some of the experiences already mentioned! I have gotten a few funny looks from store clerks..etc..I even got dinged on homework assignments in university in the U.S. because my spell checker of course did not pick up on the "extra" U in color, honor...etc...and I forgot it was different. I guess eventually I adapt my ways whether I am here or there.

The most recent experience that my fiance and I are struggling with are the wedding invitations. I send him a template of how I will word the invitations, well he picked up on the "honour" and said it should be spelled "honor" (request the honour of your presence). What the heck am I supposed to do, send out separate invitations to US and Canadian guests? LOL. I told him I do not think the guests will pick up on it whether its spelled one way or another!

To be totally honest, even in the USA, "honour" is proper formal ettiquette for wedding invitations! Go for the U!!!

[Sprailenes 47]

Sook.

[TimandJoyce 1]

Regarding accents, I never thought I had a detectable Canadian accent either, but I've been stopped several times by Americans who ask me "You're from Canada, right?" I'm told it's the "out and about" that gives it away. I don't discern it myself, but clearly people can pick it out of my speech even years after I've left Canada.

Here's a discussion of the whole out and about thing...

http://www.antimoon.com/forum/2002/252.htm

THAT is a biggie! I know a lot of Canadians don't think they have accents, but we do!! One American I met said it had something to do with "a's" like we soften them in certain words. As we were taking I said the word "about"...(didn't realize it of course) and he said "there it is!!" A lot of times when I meet Americans, and they find out I'm from Canada, they always ask.."oh...do you say 'aboot'?" That is actually how they hear it. I had no idea. Took me a long time to see it was true. I really like to listen to American words now, and detect the difference. Course with Tim it's hard..he has a southern accent!!

Another word too, if it's ever come up is garage. Maybe not all Canadian pronounce it the same way I do, but it also was a great conversation...and I've been asked how I pronounce that one too.

[Sprailenes 47]

When I go back to Canada I can hear the differences in the way we speak. There is a difference even if it's a slight one.

For the record... our way is the better way.

[ashenflowers 5]

Sook.

LOL! SYL! I wonder who else caught that.

[Hugglebuggles 60]

Just one of the many hurdles to jump! In a lot of ways I've always used American spellings. It used to get me in trouble in highschool, but once I got to university nobody cared... probably because a lot of my professors were Americans. I just feel like the U's are strange and unnecessary, but I'll always want to put "re" instead of "er" on a lot of words.

Are you channeling Warlord today??

Maybe? I don't get the reference...

[thetreble 19]

Sook.

Suck is totally a Canadian thing. I say it all the time and get the same confused reaction. It took Jared a little bit to get used to cause I use it a lot and he really had no clue what I meant at first so he just ignored it and laughed...

Then I said.."you have no clue what I mean do you..."

and he just bowed his head in shame and admitted no.

Also, I'm surprised so many of you got away with using American spellings in school. That's usually a big no-no as it's improper. I know I would have gotten in a lot of trouble in primary, secondary and post secondary education if I wouldn't have spelled the Canadian way as that is the proper way recognized by education standards.

Also, I don't know understand what media has anything to do with it? Growing up, I read my local paper. If I watched American tv..well, I am not going to learn how to spell from that...

The only thing I can think of that would be media orientated would be if you read an American magazine. However, I read loads of those too and it still never taught me how to write with American spellings. Maybe I'm just too English and think that Americans have really crucified english

Edited June 7, 2009 by thetreble