Why do we Brits use so many u's in words whilst other countries don't? I.e. Favourite, honour, etc.
by 
Victoria
ANSWERS: 12
-
Because your'e so selfish! Its always about u isn't it!
-
Firstly, it is only the US and possibly Canada (not sure about them) that omit the U. Secondly, it is OUR language, so we do it correctly, the Americans are, and this is a fact so bring on the downrating if you must! Too lazy to include the U.
-
Beats me, but then again, I don't get the "whilst" thing either:)
-
In the distant past (Chaucer's time, the 14th century), those words were pronounced in the same way as we still pronounce "hour", so honour would have been "hon-ow-er". We keep the spelling, because it is the way we always have done so. When compiling his American Dictionary, Webster decided that they were superfluous and dropped them. In one sense, he was right - they were superfluous. In another, he was wrong in that he didn't clean up a far larger number of superfluities in English spelling, such as the k in knife.
-
um its French too....not just English people and i dont know why
-
We Americans are just lazier, so we have cut out the "u".
-
I think its because you're watching too many Mobster movies..........."What chu gonna do" or " Get the Fuuuu.k outta here!"
-
Actually most of the world uses the U's. It's just Americans, who changed a bunch of words when they separated from Britain.
-
I still use the u's. Canada here. Colour, flavour etc.
-
I once tried to study Pitman's shorthand. The first lesson told me English is not written phonetically while in shorthand the phonetic method is followed. So when a word must be spelled using an alphabet of just 26 letters - without any phonetics to back it up - it is best to use all the vowels and consonants in the alphabet that will bring out the best possible pronunciation of the word. This must be the logic behind including so many 'U's in the traditional English spelling. Infact I learned spelling with all the vowels used liberally. Now I see words like 'colour' spelled without the 'u'. I find it absolutely convenient to spell and read the word without the vowel 'u' as the pronunciation of the word is already known due to common usage. Purists might find it offensive to see words misspelled. But I somehow see English as an evolving language which will continue to evolve to suit the needs of the times. After all, we don't write English the way Willam Shakespeare wrote it with all his mastery over the language. Then what is wrong in dropping a 'u' here and there?
-
beacause it's more classy?
-
Because that is the correct spelling.
RELATED QUESTIONS
Copyright 2023, Wired Ivy, LLC