Dear rkay: this is really one for tsuwm. The first American lexicographer, to show his independence, dropped the 'a's he thought unnecessary, and among others the 'e' you would use in judgment. From reading English books, I use both ways. Except in medical words. You might be mildly amused to learn that the State of Maine was so bitter about raids during the unpleasantness of 1812 that they stopped naming towns after English ones. So there are names such as China,Lisbon Falls, Norway, and Poland Springs. I was amused to hear an American TV host express suspicion that it was deceitful to call a brand of bottled water "Poland Springs" .