| General Poetry posted May 2, 2019 |
  |
(Withdrawing from love's battles)
Pulling Up The Drawbridge
by LisaMay
|
Story Poem writing prompt entry
|
Writing Prompt Write a poem of any type and any length that tells a story. |
Author's Note
(a story about spelling variations in case you think I can't spell):
'Defence' and 'defense'
These are different spellings of the same word. 'Defense' is preferred in American English, and defence is preferred in all other main varieties of English, including Australian, British, and Canadian English. Though 'defense' is now the American spelling, it is not American in origin. The OED and Google Books reveal examples of the spelling from as long ago as the 1300s, many centuries before the United States existed. That spelling continued to appear a fraction of the time through the 19th century, when it was taken up by American writers. Today, to the chagrin of those who dislike American English, the spelling is gaining ground throughout the English-speaking world.
Other than how they are spelled and where they are used, there is no difference between 'offence' and 'offense'. 'Offense' is the preferred spelling in the United States, and 'offence' prevails in all the main varieties of English from outside the U.S.
'Offence' and 'offense'
The American spelling gained steam through the 19th century, after being promoted in Noah Webster's 1831 dictionary and all later editions, but didn't become the more common form in the U.S. until the early 20th century. The spelling was not invented in the U.S., however. Webster and his contemporaries, in forging what they viewed as a more logical and more American variety of the language, actually just revived an old spelling that had been appearing to varying degrees since the 14th century, long before the United States existed. The Oxford English Dictionary cites examples of 'offense' from as long ago as 1395 and their earliest instances of 'offence' are from just a decade earlier, though it is true that the modern British spelling was settled by the 17th century and that 'offense' was no more than a rare variant by the time the Americans adopted it.
Regardless of spelling, the word is usually pronounced OFF-fence in sports-related contexts, and off-FENCE in all other contexts. There's no good reason for this difference. Blame sports commentators.
Pays
one point
and 2 member cents. (a story about spelling variations in case you think I can't spell):
'Defence' and 'defense'
These are different spellings of the same word. 'Defense' is preferred in American English, and defence is preferred in all other main varieties of English, including Australian, British, and Canadian English. Though 'defense' is now the American spelling, it is not American in origin. The OED and Google Books reveal examples of the spelling from as long ago as the 1300s, many centuries before the United States existed. That spelling continued to appear a fraction of the time through the 19th century, when it was taken up by American writers. Today, to the chagrin of those who dislike American English, the spelling is gaining ground throughout the English-speaking world.
Other than how they are spelled and where they are used, there is no difference between 'offence' and 'offense'. 'Offense' is the preferred spelling in the United States, and 'offence' prevails in all the main varieties of English from outside the U.S.
'Offence' and 'offense'
The American spelling gained steam through the 19th century, after being promoted in Noah Webster's 1831 dictionary and all later editions, but didn't become the more common form in the U.S. until the early 20th century. The spelling was not invented in the U.S., however. Webster and his contemporaries, in forging what they viewed as a more logical and more American variety of the language, actually just revived an old spelling that had been appearing to varying degrees since the 14th century, long before the United States existed. The Oxford English Dictionary cites examples of 'offense' from as long ago as 1395 and their earliest instances of 'offence' are from just a decade earlier, though it is true that the modern British spelling was settled by the 17th century and that 'offense' was no more than a rare variant by the time the Americans adopted it.
Regardless of spelling, the word is usually pronounced OFF-fence in sports-related contexts, and off-FENCE in all other contexts. There's no good reason for this difference. Blame sports commentators.
You need to login or register to write reviews. It's quick! We only ask four questions to new members.
© Copyright 2024. LisaMay All rights reserved.
LisaMay has granted FanStory.com, its affiliates and its syndicates non-exclusive rights to display this work.