-ise / -ize
am 01.03.2008 von Transblawg
American English: -ize, -ization, -izing etc.
British English: either -ize or -ise
If you use -ise, write capsize
If you use -ize, write surprise, analyse and some other words (in AmE, one sometimes sees surprize, analyze, but this is not really accepted in BrE)
I always used to use the -ize, but some clients want -ise. Most clients believe that -ize is wrong in BrE - it isnt - and I think the EU Interinstitutional style guide insists (for what its worth) on -ise.
As a general rule the first entry in the Concise Oxford dictionary should be followed. An exception to this rule is the spelling of words ending in -ise/-ize. Although both forms are correct, the preferred spelling is ‘-ise’ and this should be applied to ensure consistency.
This is silly, isnt it?
Still, I find it worth keeping the Microsoft Word spellchecker free of -izes, so I can make sure I didnt slip one in when the client wanted -ise.
The Oxford University Press is famous for using -ize, but it is not the only publisher to do so. Some translators not a million miles away from Oxford get very angry on this topic.
In this connection, the Plain Language Commission has a free newsletter, Pikestaff, with back copies available on its website, and in number 13 it has this to say:
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