Despatch or dispatch?

[bekibutton]

One of my colleagues asked me what the difference is between 'dispatch' and 'despatch'. Having Googled it, it would appear that the 'i' is generally US spelling and the 'e' is generally British English spelling.

Does anyone know?

Becki

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I was gonna take over the world but got distracted by something shiny

 

[KenCunningham]

Not sure, and haven't Googled, but dispatch always seems to me to indicate more of an element of speed as opposed to despatch. However, that might well just be my own prejudice!!

 

[Lunatic]

From m-w.com's website (Merriam-Webster OnLine Dictionary):

http://www.m-w.com/dictionary/despatch

http://www.m-w.com/dictionary/dispatch

despatch
One entry found for despatch.

Main Entry: des·patch
chiefly British variant of DISPATCH

 

[grande]

That's odd... Canada usually uses the British (read: correct) spellings of words, and I've only ever seen Dispatch.

In other news, I'm making a program for a client in the US, and they complained that I spelt colour wrong :-D

-------------------------
Call me barely Impressive Captain.

 

[RCorrigan]

grande
If you tell your client "U is right" you should be covered both ways !!!!! (apart from appauling grammer in one)

<Do I need A Signature or will an X do?>

 

[SilentAiche]

De patch can help you stop smoking, especially after sects.

If that doesn't work, go to a hypnotryst. You'll have a great time, but think you went shopping.

Tim

[blue]_______________________________________________________
"Although many figures are strange, prime numbers are truly odd."[/blue]

 

[Scott24x7]

In my experience, the dispatch vs despatch issue is exactly the same as the color vs colour... It got even more interesting in Australia, where in New South Whales, I encountered "despatch" everywhere, and in Queensland and Victoria, the "common" spelling was "dispatch". It does lend itself to the British vs. "American" spelling peculiearities, but this one is not quite a clear a line...



Best Regards,
Scott

"Everything should be made as simple as possible, and no simpler."

 

[KenCunningham]

Hey Scott, I hope those New South Whales aren't likely to be hunted by the Japanese! ;-)

 

[Scott24x7]

Ken,
DOH! I HATE when I do that... Bloody English language.





Best Regards,
Scott

"Everything should be made as simple as possible, and no simpler."

 

[Lunatic]

Every time is see despatch in this thread I can't help but conjur up the image of a Monty-Pythonesque character saying 'I have deeespatched my enemy'. I'm not sure why, but it is always there.

 

[mmerlinn]

grande

In other news, I'm making a program for a client in the US, and they complained that I spelt colour wrong

And you also spelt 'spelled' wrong.


mmerlinn

"Political correctness is the BADGE of a COWARD!"

 

[Gooser]

grammar? or grammer?

Which is the most bestest speling?

v/r

Gooser

Bad spelers of the werld, UNTIE!