Words in direct quotations

If I understand your question correctly...

No, you should not alter a quote. If there is a spelling error by the writer you are quoting, the proper way to handle this is to put [sic] immediately following the error:

"John put his hatt [sic] on the bed"

We British English speakers are used to quoting American spelling. Don't do anything, especially don't [sic] it. Just quote as-is.

Thank you.

Nat no offense but ur q isn't clear

It is one hundred percent clear.

Okay Cen thanks but wonder if you cold rephrase it for the benefit of the a2k aged and otherwise below-par (me)

I'm in exhaustion from lexicalisation

Manuel Exitis III writes, "My subject has everyday 'lexicalized' his previous writings"



Then mujst "I'm in exhaustion from lexicalized" be wrong
But of course

Cen see #...808

His writing style has to be British English. We spell certain word e.g. realise, specialise, idolise, with -ise at the end. Americans on the other hand use the -ize spelling. He asks whether, if he is quoting, in between quotation marks, a piece of American writing which includes such a word, he should change the spelling from British to American style. My answer was 'No, leave it alone'.

Thanks Cen but I'm still hopelessly confused

I presume "His" refers to Tang but then "We" and "he" leave me in a state of 86-year-old sputternation, and it's not sure what " 'he' 's" "quoting"

Perhaps another a2k who shares my consternation could intervene

Nonthelees Cen thanks for trying to enlighten the Hopelessly Ignorant a2k'er (me)

Can I change the spelling outside the direct quotation?

For example, after mentioning the term 'lexicalization' in a quotation, can I then use it with British English spelling? As in:
"According to Plag (2005: 45) 'such atypical behviour is the result of lexicalization.' However, lexicalisation..."

What about the names of theroies?

For example here is a sentence:
"Brown (2005: 34) formulates the so-called Generalized Lexicalist Hypothesis."

If I want to discuss the hypothesis, I should still refer to it as 'Generalized Lexicalist Hypothesis', or I may change 'z' to 's' as in 'Generalised Lexicalist Hypothesis.' Personally I think that it would be a strange way to do so, but I do not know.

I would leave an isolated quoted American spelling alone if it swam in a sea of British English. However, in a situation such as you describe, I would definitely avoid frequent switches back and forth. I would choose one style or the other and apply it consistently. My choice would depend on my intended audience.

Thanks Nat it's getting clearer

You says "I would leave an isolated quoted American spelling alone if it swam in a sea of British English."

I am afraid I do not understand your point here. Can you explain it to me, please?


So, can I just use the British spelling from the very beginning?
That is, can I write "Brown (2005: 34) formulates the so-called Generalised Lexicalist Hypothesis." (although he originally uses 'Generalized Lexicalist Hypothesis')?


In my first example (below) there is a direct quotation so I cannot change the spelling.

"According to Plag (2005: 45) 'such atypical behviour is the result of lexicalization.' However, lexicalisation..."

I withdraw all advice except to change all spellings, quoted or otherwise, to the style, American or English, that you choose to use.

I have read on the Internet that

"British spelling mostly uses -ise, while -ize is also used (organise/organize, realise/realize, recognise/recognize)"

"Verbs in British English that can be spelled with either -ize or -ise at the end."

Is that true?

Can I then use words like 'recognize', 'characterize', etc. together with, for example, 'behaviour' ?

Keeps getting more and more involved doesn't it Nat

For the verbs in question, it is misleading, wrong, and an over-simplification to say that all Americans write -ize and all Brits write -ise. Both spellings are correct in both regions. Each region has one variant which is the majority usage, and one which is the minority usage. Many US/British "differences" are of this type.

The same applies to examples that I take from books?
For example, here is a passage:
"Bauer (2006: 45) cites examples such as 'realization', 'generalization', etc."

I should cite the examples with their original (American) spelling?