448
In celebration of Independence Day (lemmy.world)
submitted 2 years ago by to c/memes@sopuli.xyz
32 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] 10 points 2 years ago (2 children)

IIRC, it was actually Webster, who was writing the dictionary, decided to simplify spelling

A large amount of spelling differences between the US and UK like mould/mold and center/center, are due to him

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • hideshow 4 child comments
    •
  • [–] 3 points 2 years ago (2 children)

    I think I remember learning that it was to save on printing (newspapers, etc.), but I haven't fact checked that.

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 4 child comments
    •
  • [–] 4 points 2 years ago* (1 child)

    I was under the impression it was partially due to him feeling the 'U' made the words feel "too French", and he supposedly really hated the French (apparently he was a bit of a fan of the ol' racism), but mainly he wanted something new and uniquely American - and English spelling was even more regional, wild and inconsistent back then, so he hoped to simplify it, bring it some consistency, ideally whilst also telling the French to piss off.

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 2 child comments
    •
  • [–] 4 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

    French: single-handedly turn the US into an independent country

    Washington and Webster: "fuck you you pricks"

    French: :( obliterates half of Europe

    This is why Napoleon was so anggey bros. Trust me on this it has to be true. Why else would he have created an Italian national identity than to cast upon us pain and suffering as revenge?

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent