Newsletter No. 380

Information in this section can only  be accessed with CWEM password .   若要瀏覽本部分的資料， 請須輸 入 中大校園電子郵件密碼 。 No. 380, 19.6.2011 11 PERSONALIA 人 事 動 態 American and British English Part 2 of The Economist Style Guide describes some of the main differences between American and British English in terms of spelling, grammar and usage. It explains differences and dissimilarities in characteristic style and economy. See the passage below in which a few subtle differences between the two tongues are illustrated in continuous prose and consistent context: In British English, doctors and lawyers are to be found in Harley Street or Wall Street, not on it. And they rest from their labours at weekends, not on them. During the week, their children are at school, not in it . Differences in spelling are usually sufficiently similar to enable identification but dissimilar enough to rankle the purists. The style book gives the following examples: British American cosy cozy aesthetic esthetic sizeable sizable arbour arbor theatre theater Many writers and publishers in the US spell some words with an –ize ending while their UK counterparts spell with an –ise ending. But the style book says that the –ize spelling is also a correct British form. Some words, however, are always spelled with –ise , no matter which convention is followed. Examples are: advertise apprise chastise comprise improvise incise supervise televise Editor www.cuhk.edu.hk/iso/en/features/style-speaks/index.html