If you are writing a story...?

Question

about an American, do you have to use American spelling? I'm british, writing from the view of an American girl. I write stories all the time, as a hobby. I need help though, do I use American spelling or should I stick with british because that's what I normally do? Confused hehe x x

Answer 1

You should use American words (:

Answer 2

You might want to write her speech phonetically (spelled as it's said. E.G 'said' would be spelled 'sed') in the American accent, but other than that, stick to British words and spellings.  

Answer 3

If you can set your word processor programme to U.S. english and it will prompt you to correct any differences in spelling. Just don't use British expressions like bloke, slang words etc, use labor not labour or color not colour.

Good Luck with your story and have a fun time writing it.

Answer 4

Write the story how you would usually write it.

Answer 5

I don't think it should be that hard. Try to use American words. If you publish it an editor or something would help with minor mistakes. Plus it might be fun using american words.

Answer 6

If it's American POV, use American spelling and colloquialisms, but only if you want to be really thorough. If it's fanfic I suggest you do, it will make it realler for your readers. If it's just for your personal entertainment, perhaps stick to the English you're more comfortable with.

Answer 7

Use Britsh. Usually it's the editor who can fix these mistakes.

Answer 8

Jenna,

No. You would use whatever makes you comfortable. Even in dialogue when the woman is speaking it would be fine. You can't hear her talking, so it doesn't really matter how the words are spelled. Flavor and Flavour sound the same when you're reading them.

It's not like you're making a film in England where an American actor is playing the part of an Englishman. He has to come up with a darn good accent (Johnny Depp does this well), to pull it off. You can hear them, so that's the way it has to be. Not so in your story.

Good luck!

PJ M

Answer 9

Use normal british speech. If you know american words and phrases it would be cool to put those it but the editor should review your work and sort our mistakes.

If you're not having it published and are doing it on a website or something, get a beta or something. They will help you.

Answer 10

Use British words and spelling. It'll be easier and what you automatically use anyway. If you used American, then you'd probably keep forgetting and having to go back and change words.

Answer 11

     If you're sending it to a British publisher, use British spelling.  Unless you're very experienced in 'American-speak', don't try to be an America.  It can sound ridiculous.

Good luck

Mike B

Answer 12

Yes you should use American spellings and the correct terms too, if your character is an American.

The site below has terms used from English to American and vice versa. Have fun. x

Answer 13

Forget ab spelling...just write...

Answer 14

If your view-point character is

an American then the spelling

should be American.  

Answer 15

If its a point of view from an english person about an american i would stick to british but if your the first person(the american)in the story i would write as americans do.

Answer 16

It depends on your point of view. If your story is wholly set in America, and involves only American characters, I think you'd be justified in changing things.

Or if your American character is written in the first person, the difference could be a useful way of examining the way she sees things. If not, though, I'd draw the line at whole words, phrases and slang - using two different spellings for the same thing could look like bad editing in the long run, unless it is commented upon. Using different phrases or pronunciations will also help to define character in conversations.

In an exchange between several characters, including one American, it's easy to use words like 'disorient' instead of 'disorientate' to fix the character's nationality without actually needing to say who is speaking.

Hope this helps!

Answer 17

Publisher speaking here:

If your character is American you want to use American spellings. One of the important things to remember is your POV (Point of View) If your character is AMerican and you use British spellings and phraseology you will have the reader hearing the voice in British, this will eliminate the possibility of the reader connecting with your character on a level that will make them want to keep reading.

You will need to be consistent with this because if you slip back into the British at any point, you loser credibility as a writer. Even with the internal narrative you will have to be very careful for the same reason.

For those people out there who keep saying don't worry about the mistakes, it is the editor's job to fix it. This is WRONG! It is an editors job to HELP you find what errors you have missed. If you submit any work to an agent or publisher that is filled with mistakes you will not get that work published. Your job as a writer is submit the cleanest possible material for consideration. It shows your commitment to professionalism. Anything less will not be tolerated or accepted by any reputable publishing house, editor, or agent.

Karen Syed

http://www.echelonpress.com

http://www.quakeme.com

http://karensyed.blogspot.com