Re: Acceptance of US writing by Canadians - different perspective

[Suzette Seveny <sseveny -at- PETVALU -dot- COM>]

As someone who doesn't watch hockey or much TV, I have a different perspective.
I write for both audiences, and feel that especially stuff developed in Canada
for Canadians, should have Canadian spelling and grammar.  It would be nice as
well, if American companies gave that extra effort when developing something
SOLELY for Canadians.  I understand however, that the market in the US is so
much larger, of course that's where the emphasis is going to be.  I do NOT
think "if it's different than the Americans, then it must be okay".
 (<<--Notice period outside the quotation marks in Canadian style.)

My pet peeve is Canadian technical writers who claim there is no unique
standard in Canada for spelling or grammar. Ignorance of a standard does not
mean the standard does not exist.  And those who feel that as Canadians we can
choose any standard we like.  Says who?  My standard is determined by the
intended audience for my work.  I will write to whichever standard is required.

As for spelling checkers?  Microsoft has Canadian English dictionaries that you
can load in.  Second option is to add the Canadian spellings to your personal
dictionary.  Third option - check your spelling while checking the grammar.
 There is no substitution for a live human, aware of synonyms and homonyms.

Just a different point of view.

Suzette Seveny
Markham, Ontario

Darren Barefoot wrote:
> Without sparking an international debate...
>
> Well, this question to a more general cultural identity among Canadians, in
> that an important pillar of Canadian culture can be summarized in "if it's
> different than the Americans, than it must be okay." This is preferable with
> regard to, say, universal health care, but Canadian television content (when
> it's not hockey) can be sketchy.
>
> To return to your question, Canadians tend to be inundated with things
> American, so I don't tend to blanche at a little terminology. I'd prefer
> "colour" to "color", but it's not particularly crucial.
>
> Now, if my manual's in Imperial measurements, that irks me a little.
>
> Hope that helps. DB.
>
> Ironically, when I spell-checked this message, it wanted me to converted
> "colour" to "color".
>


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