Slippy?

[erin-x]

This sounds really stupid but is 'slippy' actually a real word? I typed it in my essay and it came up on spell check but i'm sure it's a real word. I'm so confused!! haha x

[Quizmonster]

The earliest recorded use of slippy (to mean the same as slippery) dates back to the 1540s and the earliest use of slippery itself to the 1530s. The words are, effectively, contemporaneous so it is not as if one "grew out of" the other. They are historical equals.

[sophie_1003]

I've always used 'slippy' (Midlands) but we were told by my Science lecturer at uni not to use it; always use 'slippery' as she was OFSTEDed when she was a teacher and when she used the word slippy the inspector told her it was a regional colloquaism so shouldn't be used.

[Quizmonster]

If slippy was good enough for Dickens - and it was - then it should have been more than good enough for any science lecturer or inspector in my view! Would THEY have accepted criticism of one of their scientific terms from an English expert?

[sophie_1003]

Exactly QM; I would be a bit annoyed if I got pulled up on that; especially as it's a word I've often heard children use! But I think she was just warning us that might happen so we could be prepared!

[scotman]

Sophie

It seems that both words have a reasonable pedigree and are both 'correct'. I would think, however, that slippy would not be common throughout the country whereas slippery would be understood everywhere, even if it is not the local preference.
I seem to remember that as a child I used slippy but these days I would probably use slippery.