# Words that have changed spelling in your lifetime **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 15, 2013, 10:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-have-changed-spelling-in-your-lifetime/652997 "2013-03-15T10:40:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Svejk\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea666f/32.png) [@Svejk\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Svejk_1)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2013, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-have-changed-spelling-in-your-lifetime/652997/41 "2013-03-16T15:54:21Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > The way I’ve always understood it was that “catalog” is a verb and “catalogue” is a noun. That looks like it could be a very strong contender in the [Alan Metcalf competition](http://chronicle.com/blogs/linguafranca/2012/10/03/a-new-contest-centered-around-usage/) > [@OldGuy](#): > > The one that always gets me is niger (as in the seed you feed to finches) is now spelled nyjer. It was always pronounced as you probably pronounce the second. That change was of course engineered as political correctness. I take it that you mean ‘it was spelled like you pronounce it’. I’m sure that political correctness plays a role here, I have no quarrel there, but a one-on-one non-ambiguous link between sound and spelling is uncommon in the English language to say the least and is certainly not something that applies to niger. I mean - how do _you_ pronounce tiger? Again, I’m sure that political correctness led to a change of the spelling (although it seems that the PC police have not convinced the [country of Niger](http://goo.gl/maps/8um0K) to follow suit). But you can’t say that the current spelling is somehow less intuitive than the previous one. ---
**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:** [March 16, 2013, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-have-changed-spelling-in-your-lifetime/652997/42 "2013-03-16T16:51:41Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > . . . my family used the word “catsup” (pronounced the way it’s spelled) . . . When I was a kid, back in the 50s, I saw both spellings about equally, but they were both pronounced “ketchup.” I never heard “catsup” pronounced the way it’s spelled. ---
**Author:** ![staili](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c57346/32.png) [@staili](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/staili)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2013, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-have-changed-spelling-in-your-lifetime/652997/43 "2013-03-16T16:52:03Z")
I am shocked that “alright” is being taught in schools now. I think that “disc” is pretty much used only with “compact disc” in the US. The logo, with the big “disc” type, is on every CD, which helps to reinforce it, but I haven’t seen “disc” used in any other way. “Mic” is pretty standard in the theater industry, and I think it’s bleeding over to everyday usage. I don’t like it either; I think it looks like it should be pronounced “mick.” Facsimile is a great example. I don’t think most younger people even know that’s what fax is short for. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2013, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-have-changed-spelling-in-your-lifetime/652997/44 "2013-03-16T16:53:43Z")
Do people really consider “donut” close to standard? I see it used as a colloquial attenuation (like “thru”) or as a stylization in brand names, but the actual word remains “doughnut.” I’ve even seen a doughnut shop with the stylization in the name on the roof and the word (among a list if items offered) on the window below that. ---
**Author:** ![OldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/3bc359/32.png) [@OldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldGuy)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2013, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-have-changed-spelling-in-your-lifetime/652997/45 "2013-03-16T17:05:26Z")
> [@Svejk\_1](#): > > That looks like it could be a very strong contender in the [Alan Metcalf competition](http://chronicle.com/blogs/linguafranca/2012/10/03/a-new-contest-centered-around-usage/) > > I take it that you mean ‘it was spelled like you pronounce it’. I’m sure that political correctness plays a role here, I have no quarrel there, but a one-on-one non-ambiguous link between sound and spelling is uncommon in the English language to say the least and is certainly not something that applies to niger. I mean - how do _you_ pronounce tiger? > > Again, I’m sure that political correctness led to a change of the spelling (although it seems that the PC police have not convinced the [country of Niger](http://goo.gl/maps/8um0K) to follow suit). But you can’t say that the current spelling is somehow less intuitive than the previous one. None of the alternate spellings given in this thread (except things like “teh” ) are less intuitive than the previous one. By and large, I’d say they are all spelled closer to the way we pronounce them **now**. It would be fine with me (no I’m sure it probably wouldn’t really as it would mess up sight reading) if we dropped ‘c’ entirely and used ‘s’ or ‘k’ as appropriate, dropped all soft ‘g’ and replaced with ‘j’. But I see no reason to replace an ‘i’ with a ‘y’ in the middle of a word – particularly when it’s pronounced as a long ‘i’. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2013, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-have-changed-spelling-in-your-lifetime/652997/46 "2013-03-16T17:11:00Z")
> [@Peremensoe](#): > > Do people really consider “donut” close to standard? I see it used as a colloquial attenuation (like “thru”) or as a stylization in brand names, but the actual word remains “doughnut.” I’ve even seen a doughnut shop with the stylization in the name on the roof and the word (among a list if items offered) on the window below that. The online dictionaries I consulted listed it as a legitimate variant, at least in the U.S. How do you feel about “baloney” as an alternate spelling for “bologna”? Assuming we’re talking about the lunch meat, I’m not sure which spelling I prefer. It bothers me that “bologna” isn’t pronounced the way it’s spelled (according to either English or Italian rules of pronunciation); but “bologna” is the more traditional and official spelling, while “baloney” means “nonsense” or “bullshit.” ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2013, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-have-changed-spelling-in-your-lifetime/652997/47 "2013-03-16T17:13:39Z")
Minuscule has become miniscule. So much the Firefox accepts either. The root is “minus” not “mini” though. I can’t remember the last time I’ve seen “doughnut” written out. So much that I don’t even bother trying to write it that way anymore because it seem weird. Niger is pronounced nee-zher. “zh” as in plea **s** ure. When I hear nai-jer I hear it in an aristocratic British officer’s voice. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2013, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-have-changed-spelling-in-your-lifetime/652997/48 "2013-03-16T17:18:40Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > Niger is pronounced nee-zher. “zh” as in plea **s** ure. When I hear nai-jer I hear it in an aristocratic British officer’s voice. Kinda spoils the limerick, though. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2013, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-have-changed-spelling-in-your-lifetime/652997/49 "2013-03-16T17:58:43Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > Minuscule has become miniscule. So much the Firefox accepts either. The root is “minus” not “mini” though. > > I can’t remember the last time I’ve seen “doughnut” written out. So much that I don’t even bother trying to write it that way anymore because it seem weird. > > Niger is pronounced nee-zher. “zh” as in plea **s** ure. When I hear nai-jer I hear it in an aristocratic British officer’s voice. Nee-zher’ is the French pronunciation. Ny-jer is the English version. Also, Ny-jeer-ee-ah in English, Nee-zher-ee’ in French. ---
**Author:** ![ioioio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ioioio/32/316_2.png) [@ioioio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ioioio)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2013, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-have-changed-spelling-in-your-lifetime/652997/50 "2013-03-16T21:08:26Z")
“Yoghurt” is more and more becoming “yogurt”. During my lifetime, “bussing” became “busing”. I think this was an AP style change that affected other words ending in “s” as well. I still don’t like it. “Busing” just looks wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2013, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-have-changed-spelling-in-your-lifetime/652997/51 "2013-03-16T23:31:40Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > How do you feel about “baloney” as an alternate spelling for “bologna”? > > Assuming we’re talking about the lunch meat, I’m not sure which spelling I prefer. It bothers me that “bologna” isn’t pronounced the way it’s spelled (according to either English or Italian rules of pronunciation); but “bologna” is the more traditional and official spelling, while “baloney” means “nonsense” or “bullshit.” I am quite sure that the meat is “bologna.” Otherwise, agree. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2013, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-have-changed-spelling-in-your-lifetime/652997/52 "2013-03-16T23:37:58Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > Minuscule has become miniscule. I… really? Where do you find this? ---
**Author:** ![Obeseus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbce88/32.png) [@Obeseus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Obeseus)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2013, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-have-changed-spelling-in-your-lifetime/652997/53 "2013-03-16T23:38:18Z")
I still write ‘plough’ (not ‘plow’) and nobody I know acknowledges it was ever plough. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2013, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-have-changed-spelling-in-your-lifetime/652997/54 "2013-03-16T23:51:21Z")
> [@ioioio](#): > > “Yoghurt” is more and more becoming “yogurt”. > > During my lifetime, “bussing” became “busing”. I think this was an AP style change that affected other words ending in “s” as well. I still don’t like it. “Busing” just looks wrong. “Busing” is people being transported by a bus (which used to be called an omnibus). “Bussing” is kissing. Two separate words – or they should be anyway. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2013, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-have-changed-spelling-in-your-lifetime/652997/55 "2013-03-17T00:03:43Z")
> [@Peremensoe](#): > > I… really? Where do you find this? Everywhere? Google has 5.77 million hits for mini- vs. 10.5 million for minu- . Plus dictionaries have it, although mostly as a variant. Part of my search that mini- is from the late 19th century, more popular 1940s on, so I guess not in my lifetime technically, but fewer people today are aware of what it “should” be. I would attribute it to a common misspelling, but I also feel that if you asked a hundred people on the street to write the word, minu- would not be predominant, and maybe less than 50% of the time. ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2013, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-have-changed-spelling-in-your-lifetime/652997/56 "2013-03-17T02:29:03Z")
I was at the tail end of marihuana =\> marijuana, and saw some usage of “cigaret”. When I was a kid in the 1970s, many local fast food chains still sold “hamburgs”. Antone remember tee-shirts? ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2013, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-have-changed-spelling-in-your-lifetime/652997/57 "2013-03-17T02:34:53Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > Everywhere? Google has 5.77 million hits for mini- vs. 10.5 million for minu- . Plus dictionaries have it, although mostly as a variant. Huh. > [@](#): > > I would attribute it to a common misspelling, but I also feel that if you asked a hundred people on the street to write the word, minu- would not be predominant, and maybe less than 50% of the time. Right, but I would have imagined that those saying “mini-” were guessing, and mostly aware that they didn’t know. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2013, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-have-changed-spelling-in-your-lifetime/652997/58 "2013-03-17T02:54:27Z")
> [@Peremensoe](#): > > Right, but I would have imagined that those saying “mini-” were guessing, and mostly aware that they didn’t know. Yeah, that’s what I meant. On the day that I learned about both spellings, it was the same day that I realized I had no idea how I used to spell it. ---
**Author:** ![Flyer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/flyer/32/7298_2.png) [@Flyer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flyer)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2013, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-have-changed-spelling-in-your-lifetime/652997/59 "2013-03-17T05:38:22Z")
I don’t remember when it was, but I saw a surprisingly recent reference to the country of Viet Nam. > [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > I’ve noticed more and more people abbreviating “microphone” to “mic” rather than “mike.” It’s always disconcerting to me. I understand not using “mice,” but hell, I’d rather see “maic.” 😃 Ah, yes–those infamous Russian “mikehailrophones.” (How else do you get “mike” from “mic”?) Somewhat off-topic–has anybody else read Mark Twain’s story about the Esquimaux maiden? ---
**Author:** ![Cymy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@Cymy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cymy)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2013, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-have-changed-spelling-in-your-lifetime/652997/60 "2013-03-17T06:15:47Z")
I didn’t see anyone else mention the reason for the spelling “disk” … or maybe I missed it. The word “disk” is short for “diskette,” which are distinct from round discs. Diskettes are, to the best of my knowledge (I’ve been in the computer industry for well over twenty years) square(ish) plastic sleeves containing round magnetic media. I’ve never seen anything referred to as a diskette that didn’t fit this general definition. The changed word that bugs me the most, other than the loss of -gue endings on various words), is rooves vs. roofs. Even my spellchecker won’t accept rooves anymore (it insists I must have meant “grooves”). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-have-changed-spelling-in-your-lifetime/652997.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-have-changed-spelling-in-your-lifetime/652997.md?page=4)