tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1828517374142265050.post8707318776063576352..comments2024-03-16T07:55:54.153-07:00Comments on Views From the Bald Patch: Ward or wardsBotanisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12098709722475364465noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1828517374142265050.post-84895157987354566062018-02-11T10:19:48.666-08:002018-02-11T10:19:48.666-08:00Interesting question. I'm a Brit (Not English...Interesting question. I'm a Brit (Not English, Welsh! :) ) but I'm published with a U.S. publisher. My editor prefers that I use the U.S. version -'toward' 'forward', etc.but is quite happy for me to use British spelling, so I think my writing is 'hybridised'! :) I have to say I've always felt the 's' was a bit superfluous, but that's probably because I've got so used to not using it. As others have said, I think provided you're consistent you should do what feels right for you when both forms are widely used.Hywela Lynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13789711554354184386noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1828517374142265050.post-70395280786657252422018-02-09T09:20:21.501-08:002018-02-09T09:20:21.501-08:00I've always gone with the American preference....I've always gone with the American preference. The other sounds wrong to me, period. I've read both, but I admit, at this point in time, it's one of my pet peeves in grammar/editing. I'm fine if the author is from overseas, but if they're American, I count it as ignorance. *shrugs* I don't mean to be a grammar Nazi, but those are my real feelings on the matter.Crystal Collierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03912469552483168148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1828517374142265050.post-32387760281044813962018-02-08T21:03:02.198-08:002018-02-08T21:03:02.198-08:00Denise and Lynda, interesting that the Aussies are...Denise and Lynda, interesting that the Aussies are concerned about how Americans might view things, while most responses from Americans (Susan, and others earlier) suggest it's not that much of a problem. Thanks for your views, everyone!Botanisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12098709722475364465noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1828517374142265050.post-56052228445613635482018-02-07T19:37:42.259-08:002018-02-07T19:37:42.259-08:00I should say, "many" American readers se...I should say, "many" American readers see British English words as typos. Not all, of course. Lynda R Young as Elle Cardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09975442291393246148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1828517374142265050.post-72052686941261664402018-02-07T19:34:32.718-08:002018-02-07T19:34:32.718-08:00Being Aussie, I too have come across this. I decid...Being Aussie, I too have come across this. I decided to write everything I want to publish (except my blog) in American English because English speakers across the world recognise/recognize it the best and don't have a problem with it, but American readers only see 'typos' when it's written in British/Australian English. So my forwards is forward etc. Lynda R Young as Elle Cardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09975442291393246148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1828517374142265050.post-88877764906691484582018-02-07T19:30:54.546-08:002018-02-07T19:30:54.546-08:00Just because Americans are reading your book doesn...Just because Americans are reading your book doesn't mean you have to write like an American. I read a lot of books written by British and Australian authors, and I fully expect the word usage in those books to be somewhat different than what I use in my writing. There's no need for you to conform to American styles. I say, "Vive les differences!"Susan Flett Swiderskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09425315552148200073noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1828517374142265050.post-25078677076892033502018-02-07T17:58:34.380-08:002018-02-07T17:58:34.380-08:00Yep, Ian, we all/most of us aim for that big, fat,...Yep, Ian, we all/most of us aim for that big, fat, juicy American market which necessitates US spelling, grammar, punctuation etc. I think without the 's' is the way to go, I've gotten used to it, but admit I always pause when i'm writing and think about it...:-)Denise Covey https://www.blogger.com/profile/07106490051555233439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1828517374142265050.post-71747773197645947572018-02-04T09:53:03.223-08:002018-02-04T09:53:03.223-08:00Alex, I feel that in this case I was led astray by...Alex, I feel that in this case I was led astray by a small handful of critique comments. I should have questioned it a bit more carefully at the time.Botanisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12098709722475364465noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1828517374142265050.post-22183150564454915632018-02-04T09:09:29.688-08:002018-02-04T09:09:29.688-08:00Hilary, I've adapted spelling in general to th...Hilary, I've adapted spelling in general to the American version (center v. centre, etc.) but this one seems less clear-cut.<br /><br />Teresa, self-published means I can set my own editorial standards, but I don't want to fall afoul of reader expectations either.Botanisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12098709722475364465noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1828517374142265050.post-7014207383308641142018-02-04T09:09:18.281-08:002018-02-04T09:09:18.281-08:00If you've always added the s, stay consistent....If you've always added the s, stay consistent. It's correct either way and most readers won't know the difference anyway.Alex J. Cavanaughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09770065693345181702noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1828517374142265050.post-71644476419312736002018-02-04T08:39:13.842-08:002018-02-04T08:39:13.842-08:00I was born in the USA and have lived all my life h...I was born in the USA and have lived all my life here. For what it's worth: Unless you are going through a publisher, you have no editor's opinions to adhere to other than your own, right?<br /><br />I think in today's very published world--very globally published world with fewer books coming out of publishing houses that adhere to specific grammar styles, grammar is becoming more homogenized. If not more homogenized, then perhaps, more accepted when it's written in different styles. That opinion is, no doubt, highly excepted by the purists. lol<br /><br />I think you should go with what sounds right to you. Technically, they are both correct. Just be consistent with what you choose.(I'd actually already looked up the toward/towards thing for my own work). No, I don't find it odd at all. Neither with nor without the "s" at the end of the word trips up my reading. <br /><br />Teresa Cypherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08940430996766842518noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1828517374142265050.post-60998575809362125872018-02-03T16:06:56.714-08:002018-02-03T16:06:56.714-08:00Hi Ian - the thought of going English American is ...Hi Ian - the thought of going English American is too much, yet I suspect that's the way it'll be ... we're probably ok now ... but like you I'd rather keep the English version. Consistency definitely ... <br /><br />Hope that helps or muddies the waters?! Cheers HilaryHilary Melton-Butcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17596532480645510678noreply@blogger.com