New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-11-05
AMERICAN AND ENGLISH osTHosRAfHY
THE LATEST EDITION OF WEBSTER GIVES THE
THE VARIATIONS.

TO the Editor OF The rriDuho'
SIR Referring to your brief comment on the COM
muncaon OF c. d. Drake. published 10 The Irlo"ho y.
September 81 in these words: The latest edohs VI
websers Dictionary differ from English authorizes
I'm the spelling OF many words" II is pertinent TO call
attention TO the fact that the last edition. ""ebSer
International Dictionary in most cases Oh anereeo
between English and American authorities, inserts 'hc
word in both speIIngs. Commonly the two forms are
inserted together In the bold type used Tor the Vocho
uiary In other cases. especially those In wDch inc
difference seems to be based on English prejudice
concerning particular words, which i ihconsisteht VII"
their habit OF spelling other words OF the same cias
the English spelling is given In the course OF the trea''
ment Of the word but not conspcuously as In the
former cases.
Tins. center and centre appear together In the
vocabulary type. one Immediately under the other
with a brace at the end. AK and axe, centmeter
and centimctre, mold and mould given In the
same manner. In where the alphabetical order
In the column would backward II the two forms
entered in this way they entered one follow
ing the other I'm the line, and the second form
Is entered again in It's alphabetical place In the voeabu
larry For example, with the word bowder is entered
also the form preferred In England boulder, which
Is repeated In Its alphabetical place. In this case as
In great part of all the differences the best English
dictionaries give also the alternative form as one In
current
Immediately after the eiymology IS the statement
"Wrten also despatch and despatch" appears also
In IFS alphabetical order in the vocabulary IN all
cases. both spellngs Of derivatives OF words cnd'ng
I'm l. Of which traveller is the common example. arc
given The word honor appears In the vocabulary
in this form but Immediately after the eymomgy Is
the statement, Written also honour This Is one
of the words which the English persist in speihns
with H. although they have dropped that letter out OF
Slelled e. anlDaSSduOF,
author error horror terror anterior, inferior, tenor
governor ETC. tendency to go on In this direction
Is Indicated by the fact that two recent EnguSn arc
tonares Of excellent standing. give with vapour ana
ylgour the forms vapor and vlsor as accep'eu
speIilngs. 1t may be noted also that WINE several
English dictionaries give only tho spelling ciangour'
tho "New English Dictionary" the highest authority
gives the form clangor preference. with the remark
Almost uniformly spelled cangor down TO the emu
of the 18th c.. but JohnsOns Dict. has clangour."
Your London correspondent, &C. W. So VINO asks
for English authority for what he Is pleased 10 call
"webSterese" (meanng the way OF spelling certain
words sanctioned by Websters Dieuonanesh may III
structiyey study the "New English Dictionary lie
will discover there that these forms are In nearly
every case, given in the vocabulary as correct forms
in current use, without any expression Oh cohdemha
tion and the examples cited show thai thes were
ster was born OF :ardor,' for example, which !
presume gives your correspondent chill wnehevGt
he sees it, the New Engl sh Dictionary saws thlss
Spelling @ias been in use since the sixteenth century
IL was used by Milton and Robertson, as Milton and
Runyan wrote "arbOr' "a shelf r. ana Ben Johsph
Clarendon and Izaak Walton wrote " candor'
NV object Is not to contradict the opinion OF your
London correspondent, that American publishers lor
the English market will do we'll to follow the forms
currently popular In England. Probably this Is =
reasonable Judgment 50 American mnn4f a
The prevalent local taste in such markets, NY point
that ewebsters Dictionary n its latest rey u
photography but COMPREHENSIVE English and broadly
International In it the forms more c9 f Tn,da
States. are accurately given. making 10 competent
authority in this regard there as well as here ,,
New-York, Sept. 3d. 1891. WALLER hLLr'N'