Get rid of the "K"

[dogmandouglas]

It seems that Americans like to get rid of surplus letters in words, for example the "u" in colour, favourite etc. So is it time that they got rid of the surplus "K" in some words.

For example:

"k"nave
"k"night
"k"nowledge
"k"nife

I'm only joking about the dropping of letters.

But it seem that the dropping and mixing of numbers with words to form smaller words to fit text messages is gaining more ground. And it seems that text messaging is getting more prevalent in schools indeed some pupils in the UK are using that spelling in exams.

[PeterArnel]

Go for it
Peter

[George]

It seems? Note Listening to America, by Stuart Berg Flexner, pp. 212-215, Differences in American and English Spelling. It is noted therein that the English were guided by Dr. Johnson's Dictionary of the English Language in establishing their views on spelling and pronunciation. However, Noah Webster found the work unsatisfactory in general and in particular to an American culture. In his Dissertation on the English Language of 1789, he challenged Dr. Johnson's rules and practices. He went on to compile The American Dictionary of the English Language in 1828, the predecessor of all modern american dictionaries. Benjamin Franklin especially influenced him in a number of spelling changes. You know, when Parliament publically humiliated Franklin, they had their facts completely wrong, and it changed how he looked at things.

George

I got this responding to the second post instead of the first. Sorry.

[iamback]

I suspect Athleen Tinel would disagree. :p

[ktinkel]

I suspect Athleen Tinel would disagree. :pYeah!

[dthomsen8]

What about the "P" in
Pneumonia (http://www.reutershealth.com/wellconnected/doc64.html)


which doesn't mean anything more than the "K" in knife.

[donmcc]

Or the "gh" in right.

If we look for idiocyncrasies (sp??) in English we will have a long, healthy thread.

[Cristen Gillespie]

Or the "gh" in right.

If we look for idiocyncrasies (sp??) in English we will have a long, healthy thread.

Except the idiocyncrasies are more in pronunciation than spelling<G> "Noch" (transliterated) = "nacht" = "night." The spelling stays consistent enough. We change how we say the words.

[Eric Ladner]

Well, the k does disnguish knights and knaves from nights and naves!

[Eric Ladner]

Well, the k does disnguish knights and knaves from nights and naves!
Speaking of dropping letters . . .

[ktinkel]

Speaking of dropping letters . . .Indeed! :)

[donmcc]

Must not be a ti ligature in the web font. :)

[Steve Rindsberg]

Must not be a ti ligature in the web font. :)
When typographers sue one another, is it litigature?

[ElyseC]

When typographers sue one another, is it litigature?<groan>

[Squagnut]

While I genuinely like a great many American spellings (I'm in the UK, I'm a Brit and I'm a pedantic so-and-so, so this is saying something), it makes for tough work for me: the latest book I'm working on is co-authored by a Brit and an American, and is to be published in America but the senior author is British. All the same, it's being written in American English, to suit its intended audience. Luckily, it's a family affair - the senior author is also my father, an established natural history writer, so the project gets lots of co-operation and long days. It does get confusing, though!

Thankfully, I'm only expected to do the design, the DTP, half the photography, and all the image processing... at least I don't have to write the darn thing too!