Oxford spelling

Oxford spelling is a variant of English spelling that is defined by the use of the suffix -ize instead of -ise (e.g., organize vs. organise), among other characteristics. It is named after the University of Oxford, which has traditionally advocated for this spelling style. Oxford spelling is used by many international organizations and is considered a form of British English, although it shares this particular spelling trait with American English.

Characteristics

Oxford spelling is characterized by:

• The use of -ize endings: Words that in American English end in -ize, such as realize, finalize, and organize, retain these endings in Oxford spelling, as opposed to the -ise endings (e.g., realise, finalise, organise) that are more common in other forms of British English.
• The use of -yze endings: Similarly, words like analyze are spelled with -yze instead of -yse.
• The retention of certain British spellings: Despite the -ize and -yze endings, Oxford spelling retains other British spellings, such as colour instead of color, favour instead of favor, and defence instead of defense.

Usage

Oxford spelling is used by many international organizations, including the United Nations, World Health Organization, and Oxford University Press. It is also the standard spelling used in publications of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). This widespread adoption is due in part to its compromise between American and British spelling conventions, making it a preferred choice for texts intended for an international audience.

Controversy and Preferences

The choice between Oxford and other English spelling conventions often comes down to personal or organizational preference. Some argue that Oxford spelling provides a more phonetically logical spelling for many words, while others prefer the traditional -ise endings of British English or the simplified spellings of American English. The debate is part of a larger discussion about English language standardization and variation.

See Also

• American and British English spelling differences
• English orthography
• International English