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Can a word have two different spellings?

#11

@CoffeeBeanKiller said in #6:

It seems that when a word does have two different spellings, it is usually because it has the British version and the American version. Take "Toward" and "Towards" for example.

This raises the question of whether two different languages (in this case: British English and American English) can have the same ''word''. Consider for instance the word "chef", that was directly borrowed from the French. In English, it means a cook. However in French it means a chief. So, is "chef" in English the same word as "chef" in French?

American English and British English aren't different languages.

Anyway, sulphur and sulfur.

@CoffeeBeanKiller said in #6: > > It seems that when a word does have two different spellings, it is usually because it has the British version and the American version. Take "Toward" and "Towards" for example. > > This raises the question of whether two different languages (in this case: British English and American English) can have the same ''word''. Consider for instance the word "chef", that was directly borrowed from the French. In English, it means a cook. However in French it means a chief. So, is "chef" in English the same word as "chef" in French? American English and British English aren't different languages. Anyway, sulphur and sulfur.
#12

@BrokenJester said in #11:

American English and British English aren't different languages.

Prove that they are the same language.

Anyway, sulphur and sulfur.

Prove that they are the same word.

@BrokenJester said in #11: > American English and British English aren't different languages. Prove that they are the same language. > Anyway, sulphur and sulfur. Prove that they are the same word.
#13

@CoffeeBeanKiller said in #12:

American English and British English aren't different languages.

Prove that they are the same language.

Anyway, sulphur and sulfur.

Prove that they are the same word.

Don't be silly. There is more variation in spoken English between British cities than there is between standard American and British English speakers: the average Londoner and New Yorker or Angeleno would be mutually intelligible even if neither had previous exposure to the other's speech... because they fundamentally speak the same language.

Sulfur and sulphur refer to exactly the same element, with the same pronunciation, in the same language.

@CoffeeBeanKiller said in #12: > > American English and British English aren't different languages. > > Prove that they are the same language. > > > Anyway, sulphur and sulfur. > > Prove that they are the same word. Don't be silly. There is more variation in spoken English between British cities than there is between standard American and British English speakers: the average Londoner and New Yorker or Angeleno would be mutually intelligible even if neither had previous exposure to the other's speech... because they fundamentally speak the same language. Sulfur and sulphur refer to *exactly* the same element, with the same pronunciation, in the same language.
#14

Any word can have an infinite amount of spellings.
It just depends on who the grammar nazi bishops at your particular time and place are.

Any word can have an infinite amount of spellings. It just depends on who the grammar nazi bishops at your particular time and place are.
#19

Undefined behavior is my behaviour.

Undefined _behavior_ is my __behaviour__.
#20

As a statistician, whether I'm modeling or modelling, I'm doing the same thing. So I advocate that this is the same word, just with slight regional differences on the spelling.

In German I also know words that have a modern and a more antiquated spelling. Take selbstständig vs. selbständig. I believe the former is correct, but the latter is still very spread especially with regards to self-employance / freelancing

As a statistician, whether I'm *modeling* or *modelling*, I'm doing the same thing. So I advocate that this is the same word, just with slight regional differences on the spelling. In German I also know words that have a modern and a more antiquated spelling. Take *selbstständig* vs. *selbständig*. I believe the former is correct, but the latter is still very spread especially with regards to self-employance / freelancing