Feb. 20, 2002

Posted by alex on Feb 20, 2002 in General Writing

Language. It ain’t easy.

I have lived in four different English speaking countries, which one would tend to think would make life easier. It doesn’t.

With writing now I am confused so much when using certain words. Is it spelt with a “s” or “z”? Should I put realise or realize. Is it traveler or traveller? Do I use the word rubberband or elastic? Felt or marker? Pop or soda? Cheque or check?

I know that if I’m writing for an American magazine, I should spell the American way, but the problem is, I am confused as to which is the American way. So many different words for the same thing run through my brain that I am confused as to which word belongs to which country.

Spellings that used to seem natural to me now look wrong and I am unsure to which country they belong. I’m afraid that with the wrong spelling or word usage, I will cut down on my chances of being published. People will either think I’m terribly thick or too foreign. It’s enough to drive a person mad. Or should I say crazy?