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Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 1
stranger
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OP
stranger
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 1 |
I am an employee of Canada Post and for years I have seen the use of despatch or dispatch to describe the act of sending mail from one location or depot to another. I have not been able to discern which is the correct word. Can somebody settle this issue and do differing uses between American usage and "The Queen's English" come into play?
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Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542 |
The New York Times Saturday Review of Books: Dr. Walter W. Skeat. in "An Etymological Dictionary of the English Language," treating of this word, derives it from the low Latin "dispedicare." through the old French "despecher," and modern French "depecher." and says: "The spoiling 'dispatch' is very common, but 'despatch ' is the more correct."
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Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803 |
So if you want to spoil your mail, dispatch it. Otherwise despatch it.
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Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613 |
My beloved Maverick, who is British, e-mailed me the other day about one of Anu's despatches. Personally I use dispatch. So tsu me.
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Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803 |
Probably it's a BrE/AmE thing. Since you're CaE you're probably sitting on the fence.
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Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,210
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,210 |
dispatch is pretty much the only way I've seen/used it. despatch just looks wrong to my eyes, though I know it's not.
formerly known as etaoin...
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,290
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,290 |
Ceci n'est pas un seing.
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Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 2,154
Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 2,154 |
Hmm, We Canadians do seem to be on the fence. I would dispatch (send) something with despatch (haste.)
Welcome roberdj.
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Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613 |
We Canadians do seem to be on the fence. Want some pain reliever for that? 
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