I thought it was possible to set the spell checker to either American or British English .

I also don´t like -ize but not because it´s American, I just don´t like the way it looks!  Perhaps I´m a little odd but I have favourite words, depending on the way they look or sound.  I love words that sound "cuddly" . . .lol. . . I am sounding more odd by the minute.

In his book, "Shakespeare: The World as a Stage", Bill Bryson writes:

"We are not sure how best to spell his name – but then neither, it appears, was he, for the name is never spelt the same way twice in the signatures that survive. They read as Willm Shaksp, William Shakespe, Wm Shakspe, William Shakspere, Willm Shakspere and William Shak-speare. One spelling he didn’t use was the one now universally attached to his name."

http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/books/book_extracts/article2283218.ece

This seems to be true of spelling in general in those days.

It´s a while since I read his book, but Bryson also discusses American spellings and, from what I can remember (I gave the book to a friend and it has never been returned ) it would seem that a good amount of it can be traced back to England. Of course there were settlers from other parts of the world too.  I haven´t read it yet, but Bryson will probably have mentioned this in his book "Mother Tongue: The Story of the English Language".

One of my pet hates:

alot . . . not one word but two i.e.  "a lot"

also:

some abbreviate etcetera/et cetera as "ect" and it should be "etc."

In schools (I can only speak for Primary) children are taught about use of language in formal and informal situations.  In some schools, the latest resource in class is a crown. The children put on the crown and endeavour to "speak like the Queen" (not a queen ).  The boys prefer to be a king or a prince, but overall, the younger children enjoy it and it´s a less intrusive, entertaining way of teaching them.

Yes, it must be eight years or so since I first heard it.  Bill Clinton, Tony Blair, Archbishop Desmond Tutu and an Aussie backpacker were the characters in the one I heard.

Trudy was vital. . . she is the only member I felt certain would possess a backpack. 

The Pope . . . well I wanted a religious figure from TC, but I think Lemon may have ruined the punchline . . . she may have pushed all the "sinners" from the plane.

Agreed.  I find this in the workplace too.  People are always ready to criticise management decisions.  Of course there are times when this is valid, but there are always those who make a career out of complaining.  My response is often to say that management isn´t an easy job, much easier to criticise decisions than make them.

The forum needs colour with regard to views and personalities.

Sorry to go off topic a little but, given the recent arguments on the site (I´m whispering because I don´t want it to all start up again just yet), I would like to say there is a young member here that I feel is a credit to his generation and country, in the way he has conducted himself.  Turkishcobra! 

What a hard worker he is and what a great example of behaviour he sets to everyone here.  Some of his older compatriots take note! 

Debate is natural and the forum would be colourless without it.  I guess it´s the manner in which we conduct our argument that is the issue (note to self ). 

The invidious nature of his posts is more troublesome than blatant name calling he. The purport of his posts is not what he claims and his overall tone comes across as condescending towards others and insincere in regard to the political subject matter.   As an onlooker and "ignorant" wanting to learn more, I am always left feeling cheated and I blame his tactics.  Whether I agree with his political views or not becomes irrelevant because I don´t like his manner.

I don´t think the contributions, he makes in the translation threads, outweigh the harm he does to the TC image elsewhere in the forum.

embarrass(ed)

committee

accommodate/accommodation

And thank you Sonunda. Definate is definitely a spelling I am always itching to correct.

It´s difficult to know whether to correct or not, but, for the sake of those learning English, I guess it´s better to explain. 

Busy . . . campaigning

You took the words right out of my mouth:

http://www.noulakaz.net/weblog/images/20071128-geek.jpg

All that appears to be missing is the wine

 The Handsom, Gezegen, the Pope and Trudy were all in a plane together flying through stormy conditions.

Suddenly, the pilot came running back to the passengers and announced that lightning had hit the plane, and they were going to crash in a matter of minutes. "There are only enough parachutes for four of the five of us," he announced. "Since I´m the pilot, I get one!" After saying this, the pilot grabbed a parachute and jumped out of the plane.

"I´m the world´s greatest procreator," proclaimed Gezegen. "This world needs great procreators, so I must live." Gezegen then grabbed a parachute and leaped out of the plane.

"Off Ya!!  I´m the smartest  and most well read member of Turkish Class," bragged The Handsom. "Turkey needs smart, well read, peace-loving men like me. I have so much work left to do, so I must also live!" The Handsom grabbed a parachute and jumped out of the plane.

At this point, the Pope turned to Trudy and said  "I have lived a long life compared to you my child.  Please, take the last parachute. I will go down with the plane."

"Well that´s very kind of you," replied Trudy " but,  please, be my guest and put on the parachute and jump.  Don´t worry about me, I can take care of myself."

The Pope was very touched by Trudy´s brave and selfless act.

"My child, you seem very self assured, please tell me, how you are managing to keep so calm and be so brave in a situation such as this?" Asked the Pope.

"Sure," replied Trudy  "I just watched Turkey´s smartest, well read, peace-loving man jump out of the plane and he was wearing my backpack.!"