Canadian Spell-checking Dictionary
Canadian spelling is all about choice—US or British, we don't care, just don't force us to use just one or the other. But that is exactly the choice we are typically forced to make by most computer spell-checkers! So, in an attempt to address this problem, I've created a text-file (available here) which contains alternate Canadian spellings for words that can be added to your word-processor's US spell-checker. Put a stop to the ongoing "choose US or UK spelling" anti-Canadian tyrrany!
To use this file with MS Word, set up MS Word to use the US spell-checker, then copy the contents of this file to MS Word's CUSTOM.DIC file. In other words, search for the file CUSTOM.DIC on your hard drive, open it in Notepad or WordPad, open this file in Notepad or WordPad (if it isn't already open in your web-browser), select and copy all the words in this file, then paste them into CUSTOM.DIC and save the modified CUSTOM.DIC file without changing its name.
This file is my personal selection from a variety of word-lists for spell-checkers on the internet that I believe to be in the public domain. I forget now where exactly I obtained the lists, so I am unable to credit the original authors of the lists I used, nor I am able to ascertain with 100% certainty that the original word-lists are in fact public-domain. If anyone knows them not to be, or wants credit for compiling the original lists I used, or has suggestions for how my selection of alternate Canadian spellings should/could be improved, please let me know in the comments.
Labels: language
posted by Fr. Justin (Edward)
16 comments
16 Comments:
Your custom dictionary missed a few words. "guage" comes to mind. It is still an excellent offering. It is interesting that there are some meaning shifts between US and Canadian language as well.
Ever since we started requiring a foreign language dictionary in our schools (Miriam Webster Pocket) and stopped putting out the Winston dictionary for adults, it has been almost impossible to find a CANADIAN dictionary. The computer and its emphasis of the US language has just increased the problem.
You would really help me if you could tell me how to get the computer spell-check to delete the US spellings and Thesaurus entries that don't apply to Canadian.
Thanks for the feedback! I will definitely add "guage" - please let me know of any other omissions you may run across.
My personal favourite dictionary for Canadian words and spellings is the Canadian Oxford Dictionary. It tends to favour the British spellings (as do I, for the most part), but, on the whole, I find it strikes a good balance between scholarship and useability.
This custom dictionary is based on the idea that Canadians get to choose between British and US (and, occasionally, uniquely Canadian) spellings. It assumes that most Canadian computer users will already be using the default US spell-checking dictionary, then adds the most common Canadian variants.
I'm not sure if it is even possible to delete the US spellings (I'm open to feedback/correction on this issue), but it is possible to specify a preferred spelling for a word - at least in MS Word 2003.
I've just added "guage". Thanks, "anonymous"!
Any other errors/omissions anyone out there has noticed?
guage should be missing! Correct spelling is GAUGE - check in any good dictionary
Can rigor and vigor be spelled rigour and vigour? I too prefer the British versions because it is what I was taught when I was in elementary school. I hate that I am slowly being Americanized and am trying to fight it to the death.
Gauge is spelled "gauge", not "guage"!!
Vapouriser or Vaporizer, is the question???
The use of the letter U is correct to Canadian spelling form... but this word crosses TWO spelling rules.
Though the suffix "IZER" is American through and through, it is said to be 'preferred' by MOST Canadians.
Because it's invalid to 'switch languages' in the middle of a word, the ISER suffix must be used when including the U.
Personally, I detest when it's said that a word has more than one valid spelling. It's either right or it's wrong... and all I want to do, is spell like a true Canadian, each and every time.
All new Apple Macintosh computers have a Canadian dictionary available to such applications as Mail, iChat, Pages, Keynote and more.
Calibre storey sulphur tyre
Catalogue cheque
fibre
fount
gramme
meagre
mould
moustache
parlour
plough
practise
The dictionary might have gauge because Americans made it and want us to use their language - I like guage better.
Great site. Just what I have been looking for. As others have already commented, the use of computers with non-Canadian dictionaries is unfortunately changing our language. Organizing a recent field trip at school, "students should be counseled by their parents." I had them change counseled to counselled.
Even with setting the Canadian dictionary in the new verion of Word (2007?)most words on this list show up in red, meaning they have been misplelled.
Keep up the good work.
Paul
Not spellings, but Canadian words, from a desktop day calendar my wife got me many years ago, with a Canadian word for each day of the year. I must give credit to The Canadian Oxford Dictionary. Some words may be considered slang.
alcool
backsplit
bargoon
gotch
hoser
humidex
lakehead
murderball
niner
panzerotto
parkade
parkette
patriate
ringette
sidesplit
skunky
spinnerama
sportsplex
steamie
Paul G. Brandon
pbrandon at sympatico.ca
How about analogue?
Paul
My apologies for neglecting this thread for so long! To start with the oldest posts: it is indeed GAUGE, and not "guage", of course, and I have adjusted the dictionary file accordingly. I will be more careful adding words in the future!
And "rigor" and "vigor" can indeed be spelled "rigour" and "vigour" - and those alternate Canadian spellings can already be found in the custom dictionary file.
It seems to me that "vapourizer" should, in fact, be a legitimate Canadian spelling, given that it is a combination of two of our most basic preferences. That being said, the spelling does not appear in the Canadian Oxford Dictionary (my favourite Canadian dictionary - it has "vaporizer"), so I have not included it here. I would love to hear some more discussion of the pros and cons of this particular question, though!
I do not agree, however, that there should necessarily be only one right way to spell a word. Spelling conventions are useful - and a totally unified convention would indeed be helpful - but it strikes me as rather un-Canadian to absolutely require a single universal spelling system. :-)
I will try to get to the suggested additions to the list next, but that will require a bit more time than I have at the moment. In the meantime, thanks for all the helpful and interesting comments - and please keep them coming! As I said at the outset, I will do my best to keep up with them in a bit more timely fashion in the future!
cheque and chequebook are musts as well
Here is a good list for words with multiple spellings.
http://www3.telus.net/linguisticsissues/BritishCanadianAmerican.htm
Post a Comment
<< Home