# AFP News ridiculous spelling blunder. . **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 13, 2015, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/afp-news-ridiculous-spelling-blunder/719963 "2015-05-13T18:23:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2015, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/afp-news-ridiculous-spelling-blunder/719963/1 "2015-05-13T18:23:19Z")
This is their headline on Yahoo News. North Korea defence chief ‘executed with anti-aircraft fire’ [http://news.yahoo.com/north-korean-defence-minister-executed-korea-intelligence-004740331.html](http://news.yahoo.com/north-korean-defence-minister-executed-korea-intelligence-004740331.html) :dubious: Sheesh a eight year old knows better than that. Is this the editor’s day off? Its even misspelled in the URL. Oh, I am glad Kim is screwing up just like Stalin. Stalin purged his top generals in the 1930’s leaving Russia defenseless when the Nazis attacked. Lets hope Kim continues killing anybody halfway competent in his government. > [@](#): > > AFP is a global news agency delivering fast, in-depth coverage > **[AFP News Agency](https://www.youtube.com/user/AFP)** > > AFP is a leading global news agency providing fast, comprehensive and verified coverage of the events shaping our world and the issues affecting our daily lives. Drawing from an unparalleled newsgathering network across 151 countries, AFP is also a... ---
**Author:** ![74westy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/74westy/32/3950_2.png) [@74westy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/74westy)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2015, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/afp-news-ridiculous-spelling-blunder/719963/2 "2015-05-13T18:27:54Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > This is their headline on Yahoo News. North Korea defence chief ‘executed with anti-aircraft fire’ > > [http://news.yahoo.com/north-korean-defence-minister-executed-korea-intelligence-004740331.html](http://news.yahoo.com/north-korean-defence-minister-executed-korea-intelligence-004740331.html) > :dubious: Sheesh a eight year old knows better than that. Is this the editor’s day off? Its even misspelled in the URL. > > Oh, I am glad Kim is screwing up just like Stalin. Stalin purged his top generals in the 1930’s leaving Russia defenseless when the Nazis attacked. Lets hope Kim continues killing anybody halfway competent in his government. > [https://www.youtube.com/user/AFP](https://www.youtube.com/user/AFP) Which word is spelled wrong? ---
**Author:** ![UncleRojelio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unclerojelio/32/3160_2.png) [@UncleRojelio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleRojelio)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2015, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/afp-news-ridiculous-spelling-blunder/719963/3 "2015-05-13T18:33:59Z")
> [@74westy](#): > > Which word is spelled wrong? I’ll ask the same question. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2015, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/afp-news-ridiculous-spelling-blunder/719963/4 "2015-05-13T18:36:33Z")
CNN’s editor was on duty today. Defense is spelled with an S. Kids learn that in 2nd grade. Da Plane, Da Plane, De Fence, De Fence sounds like that little person shouting and pointing on Fantasy Island. 😉 > **[North Korea publicly executes defense chief, say South Korean reports | CNN](https://www.cnn.com/2015/05/13/asia/north-korea-executes-defense-chief/index.html)** > > North Korea has publicly executed the country’s defense minister after the regime accused him of treason, according to reports from South Korea on Tuesday. > [@](#): > > North Korea publicly executes defense chief, South Korean spy agency says ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2015, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/afp-news-ridiculous-spelling-blunder/719963/5 "2015-05-13T18:38:20Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Defense is spelled with an S. Kids learn that in 2nd grade. Guess that depends where you attended 2nd grade. > **[Defence vs. Defense – Which One to Use?](https://grammarist.com/spelling/defence-defense/)** > > Defense in the U.S.; defence everywhere else. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2015, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/afp-news-ridiculous-spelling-blunder/719963/6 "2015-05-13T18:40:20Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Defense is spelled with an S. Kids learn that in 2nd grade. Yes, in the U.S. But in G.B., Australia… You did mention AFP is a global news agency. ---
**Author:** ![Guy\_N.Forest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/919ad9/32.png) [@Guy\_N.Forest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guy_N.Forest)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2015, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/afp-news-ridiculous-spelling-blunder/719963/7 "2015-05-13T18:40:53Z")
In the U.K. it’s spelled “defence”. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2015, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/afp-news-ridiculous-spelling-blunder/719963/8 "2015-05-13T18:41:43Z")
It looks perfectly fine to this Canadian. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2015, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/afp-news-ridiculous-spelling-blunder/719963/9 "2015-05-13T18:45:08Z")
I had never noticed an alternate Euro spelling for defense. I guess my eyes just automatically read it the right way. For some reason today that seemingly misspelled headline stood out like a flashing neon sign. Never mind. Nothing to see here. :o ---
**Author:** ![UncleRojelio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unclerojelio/32/3160_2.png) [@UncleRojelio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleRojelio)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2015, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/afp-news-ridiculous-spelling-blunder/719963/10 "2015-05-13T18:46:58Z")
Even as an #merican I think it makes more sense spelt ‘defence’. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2015, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/afp-news-ridiculous-spelling-blunder/719963/11 "2015-05-13T18:51:50Z")
De fence is in De backyard. The dog done peed on it. 😉 As my Cajun relatives are known to say. LOL I love hearing their Cajun accents. I regret not being taught Cajun French growing up. ---
**Author:** ![MizQuirk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/94ad74/32.png) [@MizQuirk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MizQuirk)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2015, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/afp-news-ridiculous-spelling-blunder/719963/12 "2015-05-13T19:03:59Z")
[quote=“aceplace57, post:1, topic:719963”] This is their headline on Yahoo News. North Korea defence chief ‘executed with anti-aircraft fire’ [http://news.yahoo.com/north-korean-defence-minister-executed-korea-intelligence-004740331.html](http://news.yahoo.com/north-korean-defence-minister-executed-korea-intelligence-004740331.html) :dubious: Sheesh a eight year old knows better than that. Is this the editor’s day off? Its even misspelled in the URL. . . . and shouldn’t that be “an” eight year old since the word following the a . . . oh you know; also, it sounds better than “a eight year old.” ---
**Author:** ![74westy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/74westy/32/3950_2.png) [@74westy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/74westy)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2015, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/afp-news-ridiculous-spelling-blunder/719963/13 "2015-05-13T19:08:37Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > De fence is in De backyard. The dog done peed on it. 😉 > > As my Cajun relatives are known to say. LOL I love hearing their Cajun accents. I regret not being taught Cajun French growing up. The Cajuns were expelled from Canada for poor spelling. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2015, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/afp-news-ridiculous-spelling-blunder/719963/14 "2015-05-13T19:09:21Z")
You’re correct. The word an is used when the next word starts with a vowel. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2015, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/afp-news-ridiculous-spelling-blunder/719963/15 "2015-05-13T19:24:31Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > stood out like a flashing neon sign. Stop flashing, **ace**. There are webcams for that. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2015, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/afp-news-ridiculous-spelling-blunder/719963/16 "2015-05-13T21:09:18Z")
Defence in Commonwealth English, but curiously, spellings of words based on it: Defen **s** ive Defen **c** eless Defen **s** ible Similar sort story for _licence_ - turns into licen **s** ed and licen **s** ing. ---
**Author:** ![Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freddy_the_Pig)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2015, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/afp-news-ridiculous-spelling-blunder/719963/17 "2015-05-13T21:36:56Z")
We spell it with an “s”, but that stop people from holding up those D-fence micro-rebuses at football games? Nooooooo . . . ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2015, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/afp-news-ridiculous-spelling-blunder/719963/18 "2015-05-13T21:44:32Z")
Does anyone differentiate between practise and practice any more? Canada is always caught in the middle of these debates. When I was growing up practice was the noun, and practise was the verb. So you’d go to hockey practice, to practise hockey. But we seem to have adopted the US version of practice for both now. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2015, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/afp-news-ridiculous-spelling-blunder/719963/19 "2015-05-13T21:46:29Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > You’re correct. The word an is used when the next word starts with a vowel. I guess that’s an honest assessment. Oh. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2015, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/afp-news-ridiculous-spelling-blunder/719963/20 "2015-05-14T01:12:07Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > You’re correct. The word an is used when the next word starts with a vowel. You mean a vowel _sound._ [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/afp-news-ridiculous-spelling-blunder/719963.md?page=2)