HERCULIS

[sincnoel]

I am not sure if I'm being overly pedantic or even jingoistic here, but I take severe exception to today's Herculis. To be precise, the clues 3d and 15a.. I always thought I was living in a country where English English was spoken and spelt, in which case the answer to 3d should be "appetiser". Well, that's how I would spell it. But someone seems to think we are already the 51st state and gives the American spelling with the "zed". That is, assuming 15a (archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean") is Azores. I object. Strongly. If I want to spell my language the Yank way, I'll go and live there. I assume Kate is responsible for this. If so, then STOP IT! Forthwith.

[cupid04]

do you feel better after your rant? There are a lot of words that can be spelt with the
's' or 'z'. Are all the ones spelt with the 'z' American?

[sincnoel]

If they're spelt with the zed, then yes, the odds are that they ARE yank. much of american english is diabolical, anyway. as is their usage of it.

[owllady]

In my dictionary the word appetizer is spelt with a zed The Oxford Compact Dictionary

[DrFilth]

tizer is spelt with a z and it is english

Tizer was invented by a man called Fred Pickup in Manchester in 1924. Pickup originally marketed his flavorsome product as Pickup's Appetizer. Later the name was shortened to Tizer, and it was considered the drink for kids to take with them to the Saturday morning film shows, or for families to pack for picnics. Like Irn-Bru, it wasn't much seen outside its own part of the country, so visitors from the South of England always made sure to stock up on a few bottles before they went home.

[nicelander]

I think we ought to put it to the vote and if still undecided maybe have a referendum on the matter.

[Lipsiot]

Hello sincnoel - I'm with you - I work for an American company and I find it excruciating when they mangle my language.
Anyway, just a small tip from me......I find that now I've got older, I can relieve my stress by shouting at the television set. Give it a try, you'll find it most rewarding.

[pollythecat]

Just come across this. I am with you 110 percent! (another phrase in common usage that is meaningless). I hate american spelling, american phrases creeping into our language, americanisation of our religious festivals (Mothering Sunday which is not the same as Mothers Day). Zed is definately american when used as you have illustrated. Obviously we have our own words with zed in them but not as shown. The reason it has got into the dictionaries with that spelling is because it has become common usage amonst those less informed. I always add the english spelling to the spell checker when it questions my use of "s" instead of zed

[TinaB]

Well I do agree with you, I lived in the US for many years and returned home in 2002. I only had to remember to change the way I write the date. Otherwise English English is being lost. By the way it's 'zee' not 'zed'!! ;)