Wordsmith.org: the magic of words

Wordsmith Talk

About Us | What's New | Search | Site Map | Contact Us  

Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Page 1 of 4 1 2 3 4
#196460 01/23/11 05:10 AM
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,706
Candy Offline OP
Pooh-Bah
OP Offline
Pooh-Bah
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,706
I was writing the word theatre, the other day and thought, 'why do some people spell it 'theater', which is correct and why the two ways of spelling it? It happens with other '-er' and '-re' words too, like centre and sabre.

Candy #196462 01/23/11 05:58 AM
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 963
old hand
Offline
old hand
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 963
This is strictly from my (often faulty) memory, but I believe that the -er and -or (instead of -our) are from the spelling reforms of Noah Webster, at the beginning of the nineteenth century, in his attempt to regularize (!) and Americanize spelling. The standard American spelling is theater, but it is very common for a building or an organization to use theatre, based, I think, on the notion that it is more arty. The small town that I live in actually has two theaters that use the -re spelling.

Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Originally Posted By: Tromboniator
The standard American spelling is theater, but it is very common for a building or an organization to use theatre, based, I think, on the notion that it is more arty. The small town that I live in actually has two theaters that use the -re spelling.


Arty isn't the half of it. (Well, actually, it's artsy that isn't the half of if.) Why we didn't also correct the solecistic spelling of words ending in -le is beyond me.

Faldage #196471 01/23/11 03:22 PM
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 677
addict
Offline
addict
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 677
Ahah! I know the answer to this one...something about the dictionary writers...will try to find the book and will report back...it was something about the english dictionary writer publishing his dictionary, the american man didn't like the english man so published his own 'american' dictionary...like I said I will search for the book and tell you in a more concise and literate way! wink


----The next sentence is true. The previous sentence is false----
Faldage #196476 01/23/11 04:20 PM
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 9,916
Likes: 2
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 9,916
Likes: 2
Originally Posted By: Faldage
Originally Posted By: Tromboniator
The standard American spelling is theater, but it is very common for a building or an organization to use theatre, based, I think, on the notion that it is more arty. The small town that I live in actually has two theaters that use the -re spelling.


Arty isn't the half of it. (Well, actually, it's artsy that isn't the half of if.) Why we didn't also correct the solecistic spelling of words ending in -le is beyond me.



Giving angels more angles?


----please, draw me a sheep----
bexter #196477 01/23/11 04:21 PM
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 9,916
Likes: 2
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 9,916
Likes: 2
Originally Posted By: bexter
Ahah! I know the answer to this one...something about the dictionary writers...will try to find the book and will report back...it was something about the english dictionary writer publishing his dictionary, the american man didn't like the english man so published his own 'american' dictionary...like I said I will search for the book and tell you in a more concise and literate way! wink


Anyone who says you don't have too much time on your hands
does not know you.


----please, draw me a sheep----
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Originally Posted By: LukeJavan8



Giving angels more angles?


Non Angli, sed Angeli

Faldage #196493 01/23/11 11:56 PM
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 9,916
Likes: 2
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 9,916
Likes: 2
Ah, Latin. Beautiful phrase, actually rolls off the tongue.
(Augustine, correct?)


----please, draw me a sheep----
Candy #196553 01/25/11 07:11 AM
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 963
old hand
Offline
old hand
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 963
In my neighborhood, Augustine's a volcano.

Peter

Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,706
Candy Offline OP
Pooh-Bah
OP Offline
Pooh-Bah
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,706
Originally Posted By: Tromboniator
......The standard American spelling is theater, but it is very common for a building or an organization to use theatre, based, I think, on the notion that it is more arty.....


My query was in relation to Operating Theatre.
I know that they are called theatre's because once they were semi-circular amphitheatres that aloud public viewing of operations as entertainment then learning. So I guess it fits the 'arty' theme some what......


I await your findings..Bex.

Page 1 of 4 1 2 3 4

Moderated by  Jackie 

Link Copied to Clipboard
Forum Statistics
Forums16
Topics13,913
Posts229,328
Members9,182
Most Online3,341
Dec 9th, 2011
Newest Members
Ineffable, ddrinnan, TRIALNERRA, befuddledmind, KILL_YOUR_SUV
9,182 Registered Users
Who's Online Now
1 members (wofahulicodoc), 631 guests, and 1 robot.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Top Posters(30 Days)
Top Posters
wwh 13,858
Faldage 13,803
Jackie 11,613
tsuwm 10,542
wofahulicodoc 10,539
LukeJavan8 9,916
AnnaStrophic 6,511
Wordwind 6,296
of troy 5,400
Disclaimer: Wordsmith.org is not responsible for views expressed on this site. Use of this forum is at your own risk and liability - you agree to hold Wordsmith.org and its associates harmless as a condition of using it.

Home | Today's Word | Yesterday's Word | Subscribe | FAQ | Archives | Search | Feedback
Wordsmith Talk | Wordsmith Chat

© 1994-2024 Wordsmith

Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5