On Wednesday, December 13, 2006 7:58 PM [GMT+1=CET], James Knott
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
<snip>
Actually, until formalized in dictionaries, spelling was more
"creative". However, since the Webster dictionary predates Oxford by
many decades, perhaps the American spelling is correct, as it was
specified first.
<snip>
Yes, they do say that American is more like Shakespearian English than
British English is. However, I found this in Wikipedia: "American and
British English spelling differences are one aspect of American and
British English differences. In the early 18th century, English spelling
was not standardised. Different standards became noticeable after the
publishing of influential dictionaries. Current British English
spellings follow, for the most part, those of Samuel Johnson's
Dictionary of the English Language (1755). Many of the now
characteristic American English spellings were introduced, although
often not created, by Noah Webster (An American Dictionary of the
English Language (1828))."
Gallons are *not* the same; yours are 16 fluid ounces, ours are 20.
However, the American ounce is larger than the imperial. So instead
of a 4/5 volume ratio in a gallon, it's actually 5/6
I think this is only true for fluid ounces, a measure of capacity; not
for "dry" ounces, a measure of mass.
However, I also think we'd better stop this before someone gets cross
(mad) with us.
Harold Fuchs
London, England
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