h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I prefer to use the spelling programme, even when referring to computer code, but I am English (that is from England). What do you think - is one correct and the other wrong, or are both equally correct?

It may help if you indicate whether or not you are North American, as there program may be the preferred form. It may also help to mention if you are (or have been) using a language, like FORTRAN, in which PROGRAM is a keyword.

This question has arisen over an entry in peer review, but here may be a better place to discuss the matter.

I never, ever, ever spell it "programme" (except just now).

Sincerely,
A North American Who Doesn't Use FORTRAN

i thought the spelling of program/programme was context sensitive.

depending on what you were talking about.

oxford english reference dictionary has the spelling as

Programme and within that it has the american spelling program

Correct me if I'm wrong, but when FORTRAN was first invented, the maximum length for a keyword was 8 letters? Hence PROGRAM as opposed to PROGRAMMnot enough space?

so then the word will have been truncated. then it just happened to slip into common use

My first computer books (at junior school - Usborne Bookclub for schools, remember them? ) always maintained that in Britain they are context sensitive - the normal spelling is programme for TV, radio, printed items but in computing is spelt the American way, sans '-me' on the end, because it was an American coined term (and being British we absorb a word from a foriegn language and keep it unchanged, if w can)

I don't really care how I spell it, its more got to do with the environment, I mean spellcheckers and things like that. Both versions are used everywhere in all contexts but the abbreviated form seems to be taking more of a hold because its just less hassle, (I mean those two extra letters are a real burden aren't they?)

immagine the time saved in a theroy test for computer programing

Shouldn't that be 'programming'?

Hello Reddyfreddy

Your idea about keyword length is incorrect. SUBROUTINE has 10 letters but is a keyword in FORTRAN.

im dyslexic

So thaw?

TV - Programme
Computer - Program

My mistake, Oldhairy. I'm not a FORTRAN programmer mesel, I thought it might have something to do with restrictions, which always seemed to be eight letters long.

Hot_Fat: remember the trouble that was caused by all those programmers omitting 19 from the first two digits of the year a while back?

Well, it looks like most of you think program in computer contexts, although programme is not wrong according to OED.

Not the answer I wanted, because strangely enough, I never have a problem with me (but others may disagree). I just have to adjust my entry to program in the relevaant parts.

Thank you for your interest.

Red' Fred'
It was a real fizzer though, nothing crashed when it hit 2000.
Although it does make one wonder whether everything would have, had all that YKK bug protection carryon not been carried on. Its the chicken and the egg. Oh no, not another conversation thread!

TV - Programme
Computer - Program

>Although it does make one wonder whether everything would have, had all that YKK bug protection carryon not been carried on.

You mean there was a problem with zip fasteners when the date changed from 1999 to 2000?

There's an analogy in GuideML: if you want to centre something you must write not . The program is derived from American usage where it has been 'center' and 'program' for ages. So it's all programs in the US, but programs on pooters and programmes everywhere else this side of the pond. Nothing to do with word length.

Some American spellings were standard English in the eighteenth century: honor for instance. As a result, I hold not an honours but an honors degree from Trinity College Dublin. In 'Mental and Moral Science', too, which was their eighteenth-century term for Philosophy! Can you beat it?