# Jose, can you spell?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jose-can-you-spell/751340
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [April 6, 2016, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jose-can-you-spell/751340 "2016-04-06T13:56:18Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 3
### Author:  [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)
#### Post date: [April 7, 2016, 11:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jose-can-you-spell/751340/41 "2016-04-07T11:49:56Z")
It seems to me that the most common example of English omitting a Spanish diacritical is “Mexico.” In Spanish, it’s spelled _México_; sans accent, it would be pronounced with stress on the second syllable, which would be incorrect in either language.
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### Author:  [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)
#### Post date: [April 8, 2016, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jose-can-you-spell/751340/42 "2016-04-08T00:46:31Z")
> [@JKellyMap](#):
>
> It seems to me that the most common example of English omitting a Spanish diacritical is “Mexico.” In Spanish, it’s spelled _México_; sans accent, it would be pronounced with stress on the second syllable, which would be incorrect in either language.
The thing is though is that in this case, “Mexico” has been adopted as an English word. We say “Meksico” and not “May-hee-co.”
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### Author:  [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)
#### Post date: [April 8, 2016, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jose-can-you-spell/751340/43 "2016-04-08T01:47:32Z")
> [@JKellyMap](#):
>
> It seems to me that the most common example of English omitting a Spanish diacritical is “Mexico.” In Spanish, it’s spelled _México_; sans accent, it would be pronounced with stress on the second syllable, which would be incorrect in either language.
English uniformly leaves off diacritics for the names of countries, such as Mexico, Panama, and Peru, and changes the spelling of others like Brasil. In the case of Panama the pronunciation is also changed.
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### Author:  [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)
#### Post date: [April 8, 2016, 8:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jose-can-you-spell/751340/44 "2016-04-08T08:13:46Z")
Right, I agree with both you guys. I guess I was just trying to say that, in my experience, “México” is the word I had the most trouble getting used to seeing and writing WITH an accent (during the years I lived there), because I was so used to seeing it WITHOUT one – it being a such a commonly seen word in both languages. “José” might not be very far behind.l, along with its ubiquitous companion “María.”
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### Author:  [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)
#### Post date: [April 8, 2016, 11:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jose-can-you-spell/751340/45 "2016-04-08T11:26:55Z")
> [@Bullitt](#):
>
> Or on résumé?
>
> I smirk when an applicant, in their email cover letter, asks me to find their attached resume.
I’m an old guy, and I learned to type on a typewriter. Which, like an AP terminal, had no way of representing diacritics. Diacritics on English text still look pretentious to me.
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### Author:  [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)
#### Post date: [April 8, 2016, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jose-can-you-spell/751340/46 "2016-04-08T11:43:14Z")
> [@Melbourne](#):
>
> I’m an old guy, and I learned to type on a typewriter. Which, like an AP terminal, had no way of representing diacritics. Diacritics on English text still look pretentious to me.
Fair point. In my line of work attention to detail is important, and then I’ll see misspellings on a résumé that claims the person has a high attention to detail, or no accent at all on resume. Resumé is acceptable. Missing the accents on résumé is not a huge deal but I do make note of it when looking at the applicant, it is part of what s/he is representing to me during the screening process, it is part of the overall picture.
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### Author:  [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)
#### Post date: [April 8, 2016, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jose-can-you-spell/751340/47 "2016-04-08T12:06:03Z")
While we’re at it, whatever happened to the diacritic in Seán? 🙂
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### Author:  [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)
#### Post date: [April 8, 2016, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jose-can-you-spell/751340/48 "2016-04-08T12:14:51Z")
> [@Bullitt](#):
>
> Fair point. In my line of work attention to detail is important, and then I’ll see misspellings on a résumé that claims the person has a high attention to detail, or no accent at all on resume. Resumé is acceptable. Missing the accents on résumé is not a huge deal but I do make note of it when looking at the applicant, it is part of what s/he is representing to me during the screening process, it is part of the overall picture.
Whether to use “resume” or “résumé” I merely a matter of style. It’s not fair to judge that choice at all unless you have specified the style in advance.
“Resumé” is just wrong though. It reflects being unaware or uncaring of the standard spelling in either English or French.
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### Author:  [@UDS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UDS)
#### Post date: [April 8, 2016, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jose-can-you-spell/751340/49 "2016-04-08T12:56:41Z")
> [@An\_Gadai](#):
>
> While we’re at it, whatever happened to the diacritic in Seán? 🙂
Never used in the US, in my observation. Simiilarly with Caitlín.
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### Author:  [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)
#### Post date: [April 8, 2016, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jose-can-you-spell/751340/50 "2016-04-08T13:02:19Z")
> [@UDS](#):
>
> Never used in the US, in my observation. Simiilarly with Caitlín.
Funny how the new spelling, Sean, is _old_. 😉
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### Author:  [@robby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robby)
#### Post date: [April 8, 2016, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jose-can-you-spell/751340/51 "2016-04-08T14:14:19Z")
> [@Acsenray](#):
>
> Whether to use “resume” or “résumé” I merely a matter of style. It’s not fair to judge that choice at all unless you have specified the style in advance.
>
> “Resumé” is just wrong though. It reflects being unaware or uncaring of the standard spelling in either English or French.
IMHO, the standard spelling in French is irrelevant to this discussion.
Regarding the standard spelling in English, as I cited back in [Post #28](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=19239803&postcount=28), “resumé” is an accepted spelling (along with “résumé” and “resume”) according to _Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary_ (11th ed.) as well as _The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language_ (5th ed.). The OED cites this spelling (with only one accent) as far back as 1804.
Personally, I think using both accent marks looks pretentious. In English, the first accent adds nothing so far as clarity or pronunciation is concerned, while the second accent mark at least changes the pronunciation of the second syllable and distinguishes the noun from the verb.
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### Author:  [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)
#### Post date: [April 8, 2016, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jose-can-you-spell/751340/52 "2016-04-08T14:38:28Z")
> [@robby](#):
>
> IMHO, the standard spelling in French is irrelevant to this discussion.
>
> Regarding the standard spelling in English, as I cited back in [Post #28](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=19239803&postcount=28), “resumé” is an accepted spelling (along with “résumé” and “resume”) according to _Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary_ (11th ed.) as well as _The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language_ (5th ed.). The OED cites this spelling (with only one accent) as far back as 1804.
The definition that dictionaries use for accepted spelling is not the definition I would apply in a professional situation in which spelling according to a professional standard of some kind is considered important. If I’m going to consider spelling an important factor—particularly for some kind of writing or editorial job—I’m going to consider “résume” and “resumé” to both be substandard spellings. On the other hand, I’m going to consider both “resume” and “résumé” to be equally acceptable.
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### Author:  [@robby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robby)
#### Post date: [April 8, 2016, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jose-can-you-spell/751340/53 "2016-04-08T16:15:51Z")
> [@Acsenray](#):
>
> The definition that dictionaries use for accepted spelling is not the definition I would apply in a professional situation in which spelling according to a professional standard of some kind is considered important. If I’m going to consider spelling an important factor—particularly for some kind of writing or editorial job—I’m going to consider “résume” and “resumé” to both be substandard spellings. On the other hand, I’m going to consider both “resume” and “résumé” to be equally acceptable.
I would tend to agree with you, if we were only talking about a writing or editorial job. More specifically, if one were applying to work at _The New York Times_, I would definitely recommend following the guidelines of _The New York Times_ stylebook (which apparently recommends using both accents).
For the average professional job-seeker, however (especially non-writers who are likely unfamiliar with the various journalistic style guides), I would think that the spellings listed as acceptable by modern, mainstream English dictionaries (like Merriam-Webster) would be acceptable. This would include “resumé” (which I personally prefer because I think using the first accent mark is superfluous _in English_ as well as coming off as pretentious).
That said, based on this thread, I may have to reconsider my position. I honestly never thought that “resumé” might be considered by some to be a substandard spelling.
And BTW, nobody is stating that “résume” is an accepted spelling. This would seem to be the worst of all worlds.
P.S. If one wished, I think you could dial up the pretentiousness to 11 by using both accent marks and italicizing the word to boot. To wit: “Dear Sir or Madam: Please find enclosed my _résumé_ for the posted position…” 🙂
P.P.S. I’m just being funny. As this [cite](http://www.dailywritingtips.com/italicizing-foreign-words/) states, most style guides indicate that “\*n American usage, if a foreign word has an entry in Merriam-Webster, it need not be italicized.”
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### Author:  [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)
#### Post date: [April 8, 2016, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jose-can-you-spell/751340/54 "2016-04-08T17:37:06Z")
> [@Acsenray](#):
>
> Whether to use “resume” or “résumé” I merely a matter of style. It’s not fair to judge that choice at all unless you have specified the style in advance.
>
> “Resumé” is just wrong though. It reflects being unaware or uncaring of the standard spelling in either English or French.
Looks like we all are learning. If we can trust wiki, all three are acceptable.
> **[Résumé](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/R%C3%A9sum%C3%A9)**
>
> A résumé, sometimes spelled resume (or alternatively resumé),\[a\] is a document created and used by a person to present their background, skills, and accomplishments. Résumés can be used for a variety of reasons, but most often they are used to secure new employment.
> A typical résumé contains a summary of relevant job experience and education. The résumé is usually one of the first items, along with a cover letter and sometimes an application for employment, which a potential employer sees rega...
Ninja: discussed by robby and Ascenray.
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### Author:  [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)
#### Post date: [April 8, 2016, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jose-can-you-spell/751340/55 "2016-04-08T17:44:03Z")
In the end I think I prefer resumé. Less pretentious as robby said. I don’t care for resume but that is a personal preference.
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### Author:  [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)
#### Post date: [April 9, 2016, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jose-can-you-spell/751340/56 "2016-04-09T00:36:11Z")
> [@robby](#):
>
> This would include “resumé” (which I personally prefer because I think using the first accent mark is superfluous _in English_ as well as coming off as pretentious).
Seeing as using an acute accent to indicate a pronounced vowel is not part of the standard English orthography, I don’t see it as being any less pretentious.
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### Author:  [@from\_a\_to\_z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/from_a_to_z)
#### Post date: [April 9, 2016, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jose-can-you-spell/751340/57 "2016-04-09T01:41:28Z")
If no one minds a comment on the OP…
Last year I contacted Baseball-Reference because of its apparent mispronunciation of the name of Pirates reliever Arquímedes Caminero [here](http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/caminar01.shtml). Per B-R it’s “ar-keh-MEE-deez”. Numerous web pages and videos have the Spanish spelling and pronunciation as Arquímedes, stress on the second syllable.
[ul]
[li]A Web page for the Syracusan is [here](http://www.profesorenlinea.cl/fisica/ArquimedesPrincipio.htm).[/li][li]A Venezuelan interview with the pitcher is [here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMAoe8B--lE), with the interviewer pronouncing his name at about the 18 second mark.[/li][li]MLB’s pronunciation is [here](http://m.pirates.mlb.com/player/491708/arquimedes-caminero), as “ar-keh-mee-deez”.[/li][/ul]
When I pointed out to B-R the native Spanish pronunciations including Dominican Republic sports pages and the above video as examples, B-R told me essentially that B-R uses what MLB provides, and B-R wants to stay on good terms with MLB. Now that Arquímedes is with the Pirates again I can contact MLB. Some names, like those of Korea and Japan, can be difficult to pronounce correctly. At least, to avoid appearing apathetically rude, we native speakers of English can pronounce a name on the correct syllable. It’s the principle of the thing.
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### Author:  [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)
#### Post date: [April 9, 2016, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jose-can-you-spell/751340/58 "2016-04-09T02:55:07Z")
> [@Acsenray](#):
>
> Seeing as using an acute accent to indicate a pronounced vowel is not part of the standard English orthography, I don’t see it as being any less pretentious.
Same here. To me, it’s a choice between not using diacritics, and spelling it as “resume” in English (my preference), or using the diacritics of the original language, because why else are you using diacritics, and spelling it “rėsumė.” (Incidentally, apparently both my phone and computer spell checks agree and auto-correct “resumé” to “résumé.”) All three forms are acceptable according to usage, but “resumé” is the one that looks dumb to me. I don’t see how using two accents is “pretentious” vs using one. At least you’re using them correctly.
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### Author:  [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)
#### Post date: [April 9, 2016, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jose-can-you-spell/751340/59 "2016-04-09T13:12:20Z")
Just got the joke in thread title.
Took me one month.
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### Author:  [@robby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robby)
#### Post date: [April 9, 2016, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jose-can-you-spell/751340/60 "2016-04-09T18:43:10Z")
> [@Acsenray](#):
>
> Seeing as using an acute accent to indicate a pronounced vowel is not part of the standard English orthography, I don’t see it as being any less pretentious.
Well, “résumé” has two accent marks, while “resumé” has only one, so I would argue that the latter is only half as pretentious as the former. 😃
> [@pulykamell](#):
>
> Same here. To me, it’s a choice between not using diacritics, and spelling it as “resume” in English (my preference), or using the diacritics of the original language, because why else are you using diacritics, and spelling it “rėsumė.”
IMHO, it’s a balancing act between pretentiousness and clarity. The first accent mark adds pretentiousness but no clarity (in English, of course). The second accent also adds pretentiousness but at least provides some clarity by changing the pronunciation of the second syllable and distinguishing the noun from the verb.
So my preference is for “resumé.”
> [@pulykamell](#):
>
> …All three forms are acceptable according to usage, but “resumé” is the one that looks dumb to me. I don’t see how using two accents is “pretentious” vs using one. At least you’re using them correctly.
Using both accents is correct _in French_. In English, all three forms are acceptable (per _Merriam-Webster_ and _The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language_), and therefore all are “correct” _in English_.
One could certainly argue that “rėsumė” may be slightly _more_ correct, but again, “rėsumė” is burdened by twice as much pretentiousness. 🙂 “Resume” is the least pretentious, but is subject to being mistaken for the verb. “Resumé” is just right, IMHO.
(…unless you’re emailing or using a web form, as I stated earlier. I would not use accent marks in an electronic submission for fear of the accented letters not encoding properly. Indeed, I wonder if someone reading this thread is seeing both “rėsumė” and “resumé” as gibberish.)
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