03
Apr
2012

Catalogue or Catalog

categories: A to Z, Serious Editorial

Catologue or Catalog? It goes beyond you say “to mate o” I say “to mott o”.

My spell checker and I have regular altercations about the way I prefer to spell the word catalogue. I may not live in the United Kingdom, but I am almost certain that when I was a young lass not that long ago (let us try the 1980s and 1990s) that everyone still spelled the word catalogue with the extra “ue” at the end. I am pretty sure that this must have been the way I was taught to spell the word in school.

Why can’t the built-in spelling power that be recognize that he and I must respectfully agree to disagree when it comes to discussing the main means of purchasing during a bygone era?

I don’t yell at him over grey versus gray….

You would think he could be a little more reasonable.

Also, I think “catalog” looks odd. I feel like I am discussing timber instead of one of its by products. “Catalogue” meanwhile is almost seductive in its length. It feels like it could be a cousin of liqueur and a friend of friend. It is perfection to me in the way that Anne Shirley adored the ever allusive “alabaster brow.”

So, I guess the spell checker and I will agree to disagree until we cross the final frontier and engage in a man versus machine variation of The Most Dangerous Game.

 

8 Comments on Catalogue or Catalog

  1. Georgina Morales
    April 4, 2012 at 1:29 am (442 days ago)

    Nice post! I usually go into these battles with my word corrector, too. Damn thing is stubborn as a mule… Good luck with the challenge.

    From Diary of a Writer in Progress

    Reply
    • AshleyMott
      April 4, 2012 at 7:49 am (442 days ago)

      I am glad I am not the only one who “rages against the machine!” I’m sure there is probably a way to tell it to buzz of permanently, but I feel like I shouldn’t have to!

      Reply
  2. Duncan
    April 4, 2012 at 7:36 am (442 days ago)

    Hi Ashley, you’ve entered 2 blogs into the challenge – that’s brave! Catalogue definitely should have the ‘ue’ on the end!

    This is me, Duncan D. Horne, visiting you from the A-Z challenge, wishing you all the best throughout April and beyond.
    Duncan In Kuantan

    Reply
    • AshleyMott
      April 4, 2012 at 7:50 am (442 days ago)

      Well so far, the post on one blog has helped create the idea for the next, so it works out well!

      Reply
  3. Cyndel
    April 6, 2012 at 8:33 pm (439 days ago)

    Lol, your post cracked me up…oh and I happen to agree with you, I also prefer the old spelling of colour!!

    Reply
  4. Misha
    April 7, 2012 at 11:26 am (439 days ago)

    Hahaha yes… my spellchecker and I have been arguing a lot, because I have the audacity to think that having a brain makes me smarter. :-P

    Reply
  5. Jarm Del Boccio
    April 7, 2012 at 9:29 pm (438 days ago)

    A bit of nostalgia…if I would have lived in the 1800′s I would have poured over the catalogue daily. I hear that you could even purchase a home from Sears! Just stopping by from the challenge…

    Reply

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