# The spelling of new words. **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 17, 2001, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-spelling-of-new-words/54913 "2001-02-17T21:31:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2001, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-spelling-of-new-words/54913/1 "2001-02-17T21:31:25Z")
When you invent a new word, do you get to spell \*it pretty much any way you like? Fer example; From m-w > [@](#): > > Main Entry: 2laptop > Function: noun > Date: 1984 > : a portable microcomputer having its main components (as processor, keyboard, and display screen) integrated into a single unit capable of battery-powered operation I mean, it coulda been spelt “laptaupe”, right? How 'bout “desquetaupe”? 😉 \*BTW; I **know** “it” is always spelled ‘i’ ‘t’. Peace, mangeorge ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2001, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-spelling-of-new-words/54913/2 "2001-02-17T21:49:03Z")
The whole point of inventing a word is that you can spell it any way you want…but would laptaupe make any sense? Of course not. You put it on top of your lap…laptop. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2001, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-spelling-of-new-words/54913/3 "2001-02-17T21:51:03Z")
As an example, the coolest word I ever invented was _deicide_ (the wilful killing of a deity, or more commonly of the concept of a deity.) for a philosophy paper I was writing. Now, if I had gone all willy-nilly with the spelling, it wouldn’t make any sense, because the word is made from the roots _deity_ and _cide_. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2001, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-spelling-of-new-words/54913/4 "2001-02-17T21:57:45Z")
I hate to break this to you, **friedo** , but Merriam Webster’s gives the first citation for “deicide” as 1611. But maybe you’re just very old. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2001, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-spelling-of-new-words/54913/5 "2001-02-17T22:02:08Z")
I hearby invent the word “godkill”. Sorry, **friedo** , beat you to it. 😃 Peace, mangeorge ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2001, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-spelling-of-new-words/54913/6 "2001-02-17T22:04:19Z")
If you create a new word, and give it a screwy spelling like putting e’s before i’s, except after c, people are just going to make a habit of misspelling/mispronouncing it until the official spelling and pronunciation are changed match up with common usage. Once a new word is out of your hands you lose control over its spelling, pronunciation and meaning. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2001, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-spelling-of-new-words/54913/7 "2001-02-17T22:06:39Z")
Smurf or Smürf ? ---
**Author:** ![aseymayo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a88e57/32.png) [@aseymayo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aseymayo)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2001, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-spelling-of-new-words/54913/8 "2001-02-17T22:34:16Z")
Well you could spell it like that if you just wanted to confuse people, sure. Your example is not strictly a new “word” but a new _coinage_, using two old and established words in a new way. I think you could be a lot more free and easy about spelling “new” words if you borrowed them from another language. BTW, the rules I know tell me “taupe” is pronounced more like “tope” than “top,” and also it’s already in the language as the name of a color - so people like me would go around thinking “laptaupe” is a new shade of lipstick. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2001, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-spelling-of-new-words/54913/9 "2001-02-17T23:50:35Z")
**aseymayo** , thinking; > [@](#): > > “laptaupe” is a new shade of lipstick. [Searching “root” word file.] [Mental Images] 😕 :o Sorry Peace, mangeorge ---
**Author:** ![aseymayo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a88e57/32.png) [@aseymayo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aseymayo)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2001, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-spelling-of-new-words/54913/10 "2001-02-18T00:31:40Z")
(Watch this. I bet I can get **mangeorge** to giggle if I say “penis.”) **MG** - it’s time to put the bong down. Penis! ---
**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2001, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-spelling-of-new-words/54913/11 "2001-02-18T00:47:03Z")
Be careful- the [Usage panel](http://www.eeicommunications.com/eye/usage.html) will seize your new word and issue a ruling. If they can declare **irregardless** to be a word, they can do anything. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2001, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-spelling-of-new-words/54913/12 "2001-02-18T01:31:00Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by aseymayo \* > \*\*(Watch this. I bet I can get **mangeorge** to giggle if I say “penis.”) > > **MG** - it’s time to put the bong down. Penis! \*\* Men don’t giggle, **aseymayo** , we chuckle. 😉 Thanks for the gig… er, I mean chuckle. Put it down? Hah! “The ‘cold, dead fingers’ thing, except bong instead of gun”. Peace, mangeorge