User talk:Pashley/Spelling

"Correcting" spelling while making other substantive changes

It's a bit counter-productive to hold back from changing to a consistent or nationally relevant usage if the article is already at Guide status and other substantive changes are being made at the same time so I'd suggest changing:

"Editors should not "correct" varietal differences in spelling. For example, changing "colour" to "color" or vice versa is almost always a complete waste of time."

to:

Editors should not just edit to "correct" varietal differences in spelling. For example, only changing "colour" to "color" or vice versa is almost always a complete waste of time.

--W. Frank^e-mail_talk 11:28, 14 July 2013 (UTC)

Add a new section?

I'd propose adding another secondary level section after "National varieties of English" and before "Proper names":

Commonality

Where appropriate, try and use a commonly understood word or phrase in preference to one that has a different meaning because of national differences.

For example, instead of writing "Peter tabled his nomination"
(which will be understood as "...withdrew his nomination" in the USA but as the exact opposite in much of the English speaking world), write
"Peter withdrew his nomination" so that the phrase will be universally understood.
(In Commonwealth English, one tables a nomination if one wishes to propose not withdraw a nomination!)

--W. Frank^e-mail_talk 18:51, 14 July 2013 (UTC)

Contentious countries with English as an official language

I agree with the hidden HTML guidance "Please do not add countries where English is not a main national or official language, such as Thailand or Mexico, here."

However, I also believe that countries like Sudan and South Sudan should also not be added to the "Commonwealth English list" since, even though this variety is an official language in those countries, penetration and competence is so low as to make any decision between English language varieties moot.

On the other hand, almost the opposite situation exists with regard to Israel and US English. --W. Frank^e-mail_talk 20:19, 14 July 2013 (UTC)