Am 2000-06-16 um 14:39 h hat [EMAIL PROTECTED] geschrieben: > the German ligature "�" [...] can also be spelled "ss" > (this is just an alternate spelling in Germany, but it is mandatory in > Switzerland), and is uppercased as "SS". Almost correct ;-) "ss" is an alternate spelling for "�". - In Switzerland, you are free to use it (it is NOT mandatory). - Elsewhere, you may only use it if "�" is not (technically) available (it is NOT an alternative spelling in the sense that you were free to use it at your discretion). Cf. <http://www.ids-mannheim.de/grammis/reform/a2-3.html#25E2>. Actually, Swiss newspapers, road-signs, advertissements, &c., generally use the alternative spelling "ss", while books either spell "ss" or "�", depending on the issuers choice. To prevent a possible misunderstanding: The 1996 spelling reform has dropped a particular rule about "�", resulting in some "ss" where "�" used to be, but still both "ss" and "�" are used in German orthography. Best wishes, Otto stolz
