Making Sense of American and British English

            As I continue in my career as a copyeditor, the many differences between American and British English have become more apparent to me. On the one hand, I have gotten great pleasure out of discovering the many British words that have worked their way into my vocabulary. I assume that is a direct result of the amount of British literature and TV that I indulge in regularly. On the other hand, it has also served to be a conundrum. There are so many differences and I don't want to jump back and forth between the two versions of English within the same work. I am certain I am not the only editor or writer who has quickly become confused and uncertain of what is right. With personal experience in mind, I am offering you several tips that I have found work best when dealing with American and British English.

            The first tip is fairly basic but very much a necessity. Learn about the most common variations. Research either American or British English so that you can know how that form of English works. You don’t have to be an expert, nor have it all memorized. You do need to be aware of what differences exist so that your mental editor can recognize any possibilities for trouble. The first difference to be aware of is spellings. That is a sticking point for me that has often resulted in me cursing the name of Noah Webster and wondering why one spelling wasn't good enough. Be aware of differences like "colour" versus "color" or "centre" instead of "center." It is the slight deviations in spelling that can be the trickiest to catch.

Two more differences to keep in mind are wording and grammar. For instance, a muffin in American English is a very different thing from a muffin in British English. Also, Americans and British treat verbs and subject/verb agreement differently. The British have also retained some words and verb conjugations that have already fallen from favor in America. While I am on the subject, it isn't enough to be aware of American versus British English. For the sake of your audience, you need to think about what dialect the text is using. Just like there are differences between the parts of the US, different parts of Britain will have variations.

            At this point, it might sound hopeless. How is anyone supposed to make it through a manuscript without botching the language? The second tip I have for you is the biggest lifesaver. Invest in both a good British English and American English dictionary. You can’t know everything, so it is best to be armed with the answers for when the questions arise. Even when you feel certain you have the right word or spelling, check the dictionary. You can never be too certain. It is much better to take the time to check a right answer than to miss a wrong one.

            A dictionary is fine but looking things up does take time and can throw you off when you're on a roll. This is where a style sheet becomes imperative. As you look things up or find yourself referring to a certain point repeatedly, write it down on a style sheet so that you can have easy access to the answers you need. This will save you time throughout your work and make it so that the most common answers you need are readily available.

            Finally, I suggest that you practice. The more you write or edit with a certain type of English, the more comfortable you will become. It will feel more natural as you learn how to use it and get used to the sound of it. Speaking of sound, it can also be helpful to read that variant of English. I can certainly testify to how well reading can work in teaching one either American or British English.

           An editor or writer who has to use either American or British English may find the differences in grammar, spelling, and meaning to be confusing. By being aware of these differences and preparing for them, one can master the variations and write clear English manuscripts. An editor or writer simply needs to arm themselves with a dictionary and style sheet so that they can use either form of English without the struggle of guessing which way is correct.

January's Feature Book: The Importance of Being Earnest

            I have a confession to make, readers. With holidays and sickness and a bout of winter laziness, working on a book review did not score high on my list of priorities and eventually fell by the wayside. If you are at all familiar with The Importance of Being Earnest[1], you probably think I’m cheating. Honestly, I am cheating because I could not let myself do nothing for this month. So instead of a full-length novel, you are getting a theatrical production. That does not mean that Earnest isn’t worth the read. This work by Oscar Wilde is a comedic classic and has long been one of my favorites.

            Earnest was first presented in London in 1895 on Valentine's day. I wouldn't really suggest taking your sweetheart to this one though because the characters' ideas on romance and marriage are highly questionable. The main character is the bachelor, Mr. John Worthing, who has an inconsistent relationship with the truth. This failure to adhere to honesty causes him a great deal of trouble when he decides it is time to get married. What follows is witty repartee and a hilariously tangled chain of events that teach Jack an unforgettable lesson about always being earnest.

            Oscar Wilde is one of those authors that I have a hard time liking. He goes on the same list as Jack London and Ernest Hemingway for me. Most of his works that I have read were plain not for me, but Earnest is an exception. Because of Wilde’s stellar humor spread throughout the play, I keep returning and still laugh even though I've read the jokes countless times. Whether it’s a play on words or a jab at the government, Wilde does have a knack for finding the right amount of humor in each moment. Even though society is not the same – and there's the pesky detail of the play being located across the Atlantic – the humor is still there and still packs just as powerful of a punch because it transcends time and place.

            A large part of the humor and what makes this play great are the characters. The ladies of Earnest are fickle and have absurd notions of what constitutes a good husband. Lady Bracknell won me over the moment she started in her ridiculous interrogation to decide if Mr. Worthing would be suitable enough for her daughter Gwendolyn. Starting with her comments about smoking being an occupation and ending with her emphatic assertion that Gwendolyn could not marry into a coat-closet, Lady Bracknell personifies the more questionable aspects of the Victorian era. Her social commentary about the shallowness of society matrons, the lack of proper education, and disgust over even the slightest hint of "French morals" ring very true for the era. For all the good and wholesomeness of the era, it also produced its share of hallow ideals and masked problems. Just the same, there are few ladies so formidable that they can easily decide to change what’s fashionable.

            Then there is Miss Gwendolyn Fairfax and Miss Cecily Cardew. Both ladies have plenty to say without really saying anything. They both personify fickleness in that they are both always right and never wrong in everything they say. Miss Fairfax just knew she would be friends with Miss Cardew and the next instant always knew that Miss Cardew couldn’t be trusted. Similarly, Miss Cardew regularly contradicts herself and changes her opinions as they suite her each moment.

            The two main gentlemen of the play, Mr. John Worthing and Mr. Algernon Moncrieff, each have their interesting qualities and character flaws. The most notable thing about Mr. Moncrieff is that when he’s not eating, he actually has more substance to him than one might think. The things he says are on the surface, outrageous and jaded. But if one takes the time to think about it, they have a grain of truth in them. Algy might actually understand the world much better than anyone realizes. Jack has his issues with life and society. He takes the wrong things too seriously and gets himself worked up over details that really shouldn't matter. Because of their opposing personalities, Algy and Jack's conversations hold some of the best jokes and most biting sarcasm.

           The truth, unfortunately, is the elusive piece throughout the play. Mr. Worthing has built an entire web of lies to make life easier for himself. When he decides to correct the matter by getting rid of the lies in one fell swoop, they all come back to haunt him. When finally faced with actual truth, Mr. Worthing's lies take on a whole new image that he never expected them to. Mr. Moncrieff’s series of lies is also a problem and when combined with Mr. Worthing's, they create a perfect storm.

While I agree with Wilde in his social commentary throughout the play, I have always questioned his treatment of the truth. There is something about the idea that the lies were truth and the truth was a lie that bothers me. It almost feels like Mr. Worthing gets off a little too easy after lying to everyone for so many years. On the other hand, it seems deserved. It’s not like Mr. Moncrieff or Miss Fairfax are saints. When one really thinks about it, no one in the play takes the truth very serious. I believe that the play is showing that honesty is better, but I’m not sure it does it in a very convincing matter.

            I suggest you either watch or read this fantastic play and tell me what you think of the ending. Did you see it coming? What do you think of Oscar Wilde's handling of the truth? No matter how one feels about the moral implications of the story, all must agree that the humor transcends the years making this play just as biting and hilarious now well over one hundred years later.

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[1] Oscar Wilde, The Importance of Being Earnest: A Trivial Comedy for Serious People, http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/844, Accessed January 27, 2020.

My 2020 Book Challenge

            The holidays have ended; another year is gone. During the holiday season, I saw many posts on social media talking about how many books that person had read in 2019 along with a picture of an impressive stack of books. That got me thinking. How many books did I read in the past year? I know I read a lot because my shelves witness to that fact, but I've never actually kept track. The more I thought about it, the more curious I became. Thus, it is with much excitement I embark on 2020 intending to find an answer that will satisfy my curiosity.

            Books have always been an essential part of my life. My mom instilled a love for the written word in me at an early age and my face has been in a book ever since. I know from experience that reading can not only open up the fictional world but also enlighten a reader about the real world. Countless times a book has sparked a series of questions for me that results in an alarming amount of knowledge about unusual topics. I want that because with each book I finish my views about the world shift. Each story reveals more to me about people and cultures. They teach me about the effects of different circumstances and events. Books help me understand the world I live in and beyond.

            Because of my love of books, I have an eternal book list. You know what I'm talking about. That book list that you're never going to finish in your lifetime because you add books to it at a faster rate than you can read them. I know that I'm most likely not going to make much of a dent in my list this year, but I am trying to be optimistic as I plan out my reading goals. I’m not going into this experiment with a mere list of what I’ve read. Planning is a must in my world, so I’ve created a goal to pursue and set parameters for achieving it. To start, I am going to count both new books and old ones. Books are like old friends to me. I have to visit them often. While I'm not certain, I think it is safe to say I reread books more often than I read new ones. All genres are going to be acceptable as well as all formats. Collections and novellas are common reads for me because of how much easier they are to fit into a schedule. I want to count them to get a more accurate idea of how much reading I do in a year.

            Having some rules to follow is good, but I need a goal to pursue. For the year 2020, my goal is to read 50 books. A lot of thought went into this number. First, I've considered how much reading I do each day. Every day I read for research and educational purposes as well as the reading that I do for enjoyment. However, I've slowed down considerably from the amount of reading I used to do. I no longer have time to read a book in one day. I'm also taking into consideration that over my holiday break, I've read two novellas and nearly finished a full novel. I believe that fifty books are a challenge without being impossible. Knowing my personality, it's going to become a challenge to see how many books over fifty I can read.

            As much as I love books, I love them even more when reading them with others. This experiment would be so much better if everyone participated. I invite all of you readers to keep track of your book count with me. You can follow the same set of rules that I’m using or come up with your own that better fits the way you read. Set yourself a goal for this year and start turning those pages! As the year progresses, I will occasionally give updates. At the end of the year, we can reveal our results and maybe plan loftier goals for the new year. I have a feeling that this is going to be an adventure-filled year – in my literary world at least.