Divided by an ocean and a common language

[alanstancliff]

Hello,

When I was installing XaraPro4 on my computer, which lives and breathes in the northwest corner of the United States, Xara could not find my US English settings, and it offered me the UK English settings. My computer is set up in US English and Mexican Spanish in the keyboard and word processor programs. I figured that between my knowledge of American English and Mexican Spanish, I might be able to muddle through the UK oddities. But I was wondering if the final version will have US English as an option?

[pauland]

I was wondering if the final version will have US English as an option?

Only available as a downgrade... ;-)

Faster download though - verb table formed directly from nouns..


Sorry Alan, I'm just being wicked.

Paul

[alanstancliff]

Only available as a downgrade... ;-)

Faster download though - verb table formed directly from nouns..


Sorry Alan, I'm just being wicked.

Paul

No need to apologize. I'm giggling like crazy.


My wife is a retired English, French, and Spanish teacher, born and educated in the UK. She's been here for 30 years and still sounds like she just stumbled off the boat, spewing plums all over the place. As soon as I get up from the 'puter, I'm going to tell her about it, although it will just give her more ammunition.

[pauland]

One thing has always intrigued me. What's the origin of Americans calling the '#' key (hash key here in the UK) the pound key?

Paul

[steve.ledger]

Only available as a downgrade... ;-)
l

I love it...

[steve.ledger]

One thing has always intrigued me. What's the origin of Americans calling the '#' key (hash key here in the UK) the pound key?

Paul

Never heard it called the 'pound' key? My (few) American friends call it the number key.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Number_sign

In Australia, many refer to it as the 'cross hatch', calling those who say 'hash' as slack jawed yokels..

[Odat]

What's the origin of Americans calling the '#' key (hash key here in the UK) the pound key?

I don't know, but here in Canada we call it the Octothorpe..

[handrawn]

and I irritate some by calling it the hex key

[steve.ledger]

How interesting. I enjoy finding out more about obscure often silly little things that we take for granted for years without ever thinking.

Just found an interesting read on Octothorpe with some history on the # key

[alanstancliff]

One thing has always intrigued me. What's the origin of Americans calling the '#' key (hash key here in the UK) the pound key?

Paul

At the risk of being off topic (sorry moderators), there's an interesting article about the hash mark/pound sign in Wikipedia.