international spelling

[deird_lj]

Okay,  question:

I'm writing a fic using American characters (surprise, surprise). And so obviously I have them talk about "diapers", and "elevators", and being "in the hospital".

But I'm going to have them talking about weapons. So my question is, being Americans written by an Australian, should I have them saying "ax" or "axe"?

Thoughts?

Comments

[snowpuppies]

Axe.

[deird1]

Thanks!

It'll be interesting to see what the consensus is...

[spiralleds.livejournal.com]

Well, I'd say "ax" is the primary spelling, see this, although the variant "axe" isn't that unusual.

[deird1]

So technically, an American could spell it "axe"? Without trying to look British?

[spiralleds.livejournal.com]

Yup. It's closer to the way an American might use either 'theater' or 'theatre', depending on how quirky we wish to be, but we'd never say 'tonne' for 'ton'.

[deird1]

Ooh. Really?
I didn't even realise some Americans used "theatre"...

[spiralleds.livejournal.com]

Yup. At least us pretentious theatre types (and quite a few of the theatres in their names).

[mabus101.livejournal.com]

I see both pretty frequently, but I think "ax" is more common.

[deird1]

I guess I'm mostly wondering - if the character would spell it "ax", should her dialogue fit her spelling? Or mine?

[stormwreath.livejournal.com]

Personally, I'd write it 'axe' automatically. However, if one of your American characters says something like "Buffy, how do you spell 'axe'?" I'd hesitate before putting her reply as "A, X" or "A, X, E"...

[deird1]

Good point!

But no, no spelling things out involved. I was just wondering if it would look odd for an American to be talking about an "ax" or "colours"...

[deird1]

Blast. An "axe" or "colours", obviously.

Must get paid account and start editing comments...

[stormwreath.livejournal.com]

I know some Americans writing Harry Potter fic try to go all-out and completely anglicise their work, right down to the grammar and punctuation as well as the vocabulary. It might make more sense in a fandom based on a book - to make your fic look exactly the way JKR would have written it - but it's always seemd a step too far to me.

Like you, I'll make sure that the direct speech is properly localised as far as word choice goes; but I'll still spell and punctuate the way that looks right to me.

(The exception might be words that actually have different meanings in British and American English, such as 'jumper' or 'pavement' - I'd avoid them, if I remember, simply to avoid confusion in my readers.)

[washa-way.livejournal.com]

I use "axe" more often, but I often use Anglicized spellings without really noticing because I've read a lot of English books.

The Chet Atkins song is spelled "Yakety Axe," if that's any help.

In short, I don't think there's a definite American spelling, as there is for "color" or "aluminum."

[padawanspider.livejournal.com]

I'd spell it "axe". "Ax" just... looks like an element symbol or something. Certainly not a complete noun.

But, if I were writing something from a differently-English-speaking person's POV, I would probably use the words they would use, but the spelling my audience would be used to.

My husband would spell it "ax". Freak.

[dreamincolor.livejournal.com]

Yep, I'll go with the majority and vote 'axe.'