Center or Centre?
November 30, 2010 8:48 AM Subscribe
UK spelling question: I'm applying for a job. Which format should I use on my CV and cover letter?
I'm American living in the UK and I'm applying for a new job. Normally I do use the UK spelling format, but I realized that on my CV and cover letters I have the American format. One of my previous jobs in the US has the word 'center' in it as in The XY Center. So in this case, do I use 'Center' because I'm talking about an organisation in America, or should I use 'Centre' for the sake of being in the UK? If I say something like, 'At the Center daily tasks.....' I'm assuming I should be consistent and use the same format. I once read this article written in America where the author was talking about the Labour party in the UK but spelled it 'Labor' and she was widely criticized for it, so I'm concerned that I could get passed up for a job over this. Does it really matter which format I use so long as I'm consistent? Has anyone else dealt with this? What are the rules in a situation like this?
I'm American living in the UK and I'm applying for a new job. Normally I do use the UK spelling format, but I realized that on my CV and cover letters I have the American format. One of my previous jobs in the US has the word 'center' in it as in The XY Center. So in this case, do I use 'Center' because I'm talking about an organisation in America, or should I use 'Centre' for the sake of being in the UK? If I say something like, 'At the Center daily tasks.....' I'm assuming I should be consistent and use the same format. I once read this article written in America where the author was talking about the Labour party in the UK but spelled it 'Labor' and she was widely criticized for it, so I'm concerned that I could get passed up for a job over this. Does it really matter which format I use so long as I'm consistent? Has anyone else dealt with this? What are the rules in a situation like this?
USian living in the UK here, agreed with phatkitten and modernnomad. Be scrupulous with UK spelling, usage and formatting as you need to demonstrate your adaptation to this culture.
posted by By The Grace of God at 8:58 AM on November 30, 2010
posted by By The Grace of God at 8:58 AM on November 30, 2010
American in the UK. Agreed with everyone above re using "Center" as part of a proper name.
But also wanted to add to switch everything else to British spelling. It won't win you points if you do use British spellings but from my experience people tend to roll their eyes or make a passing comment if you use the American spelling. You don't want your spelling to stand out, you want the content of the CV to stand out.
I don't think this will apply but man I JUST learned that they spell "tire" (as in a wheel) as "tyre". CRAZY!
posted by like_neon at 9:43 AM on November 30, 2010
But also wanted to add to switch everything else to British spelling. It won't win you points if you do use British spellings but from my experience people tend to roll their eyes or make a passing comment if you use the American spelling. You don't want your spelling to stand out, you want the content of the CV to stand out.
I don't think this will apply but man I JUST learned that they spell "tire" (as in a wheel) as "tyre". CRAZY!
posted by like_neon at 9:43 AM on November 30, 2010
Yeah, the first answer is right. You have no leeway to change a proper noun. That would actually be technically dishonest. For instance, if you lived on Centre Street in New York City and were applying for jobs in the United States, you couldn't decide to give your address as "Center Street." You might have preferred if that had been the street's name, but it isn't.
I wouldn't even use "center" to refer to the same place, even though this would be technically correct. A job application isn't just about following technical rules; it's also about presenting a smooth, consistent, professional appearance. If the rushed hiring manager is flipping through hundreds of applications and sees you've written, "I worked at the XY Center. At the centre, I...," it's possible this person could make a snap judgment of, "Oh, this letter is inconsistent; the applicant didn't bother to edit it."
posted by John Cohen at 9:56 AM on November 30, 2010
I wouldn't even use "center" to refer to the same place, even though this would be technically correct. A job application isn't just about following technical rules; it's also about presenting a smooth, consistent, professional appearance. If the rushed hiring manager is flipping through hundreds of applications and sees you've written, "I worked at the XY Center. At the centre, I...," it's possible this person could make a snap judgment of, "Oh, this letter is inconsistent; the applicant didn't bother to edit it."
posted by John Cohen at 9:56 AM on November 30, 2010
I agree with everyone else... if it's a proper noun, spell it "Center", but otherwise "centre".
British people are pretty used to seeing American spellings, and you're very unlikely to be thought any worse of for using the correct name of a US org.
I write about the Canadian "Department of Defence", but the British "Department of Defense", and so on.
Btw, in case anyone is planning to write about defense/defence, the British spelling is "defence". As in Ministry of Defence.
posted by philipy at 10:07 AM on November 30, 2010
British people are pretty used to seeing American spellings, and you're very unlikely to be thought any worse of for using the correct name of a US org.
I write about the Canadian "Department of Defence", but the British "Department of Defense", and so on.
Btw, in case anyone is planning to write about defense/defence, the British spelling is "defence". As in Ministry of Defence.
posted by philipy at 10:07 AM on November 30, 2010
Btw, in case anyone is planning to write about defense/defence, the British spelling is "defence". As in Ministry of Defence.
This is one of those things that seems to break the rule a lot; i.e., I've seen a lot of British publications refer to the "US Department of Defence" (cf), so there's at least some liberty taken with respecting native spellings.
If the place you're applying to has a style guide...well, that would be nice. Rule of thumb, though, is don't change proper names and (to avoid John Cohen's good point) don't switch references from proper to common. As in: "I worked at the XY Center. At the Center, I..."
posted by kittyprecious at 11:12 AM on November 30, 2010
This is one of those things that seems to break the rule a lot; i.e., I've seen a lot of British publications refer to the "US Department of Defence" (cf), so there's at least some liberty taken with respecting native spellings.
If the place you're applying to has a style guide...well, that would be nice. Rule of thumb, though, is don't change proper names and (to avoid John Cohen's good point) don't switch references from proper to common. As in: "I worked at the XY Center. At the Center, I..."
posted by kittyprecious at 11:12 AM on November 30, 2010
Btw, in case anyone is planning to write about defense/defence, the British spelling is "defence". As in Ministry of Defence..
Yes, sorry.. brain-fart -- I was actually thinking of the US Department of Defense, but for some reason typed British. Anglo-American differences on the brain, I suppose!
posted by modernnomad at 11:36 AM on November 30, 2010
Yes, sorry.. brain-fart -- I was actually thinking of the US Department of Defense, but for some reason typed British. Anglo-American differences on the brain, I suppose!
posted by modernnomad at 11:36 AM on November 30, 2010
The situation John Cohen refers to is exactly what I am trying to avoid. So the question is then, should I use 'centre' in the name because I'm in England or should I stick with 'center' since it's more technically correct?
posted by Anthro girl at 11:41 AM on November 30, 2010
posted by Anthro girl at 11:41 AM on November 30, 2010
I notice that the U.S. media frequently talks about the "Labor Party" in the U.K., which is not how it spells its name, but (and I think this must match the case of "Department of Defence" mentioned above) I assume this is because a "Labor" political party is commonplace in the English-speaking world, and refers generically to parties aligned with the working classes. Similarly, most governments have a department devoted to defending their country, so perhaps the media's local-variant spelling (defence or defense as appropriate) is acceptable for that reason.
Though if I were using capital letters to connote a proper name I think again I'd go with the way it was spelled in the country in question. So personally I suppose I don't fully approve of the reasoning I assume underlies the U.S. media's spelling of the name of the U.K.'s Labour Party.
The sad thing is that even if you are consistently following rules you are at the mercy of people who probably don't think things through as much as you do. If you wrote, "I worked at The XYZ Center ... daily tasks at the centre include ... " someone might decide you couldn't spell consistently rather than applaud the thinking behind it. I might avoid referring to "the center" except in giving its full title.
posted by galaksit at 12:24 PM on November 30, 2010
Though if I were using capital letters to connote a proper name I think again I'd go with the way it was spelled in the country in question. So personally I suppose I don't fully approve of the reasoning I assume underlies the U.S. media's spelling of the name of the U.K.'s Labour Party.
The sad thing is that even if you are consistently following rules you are at the mercy of people who probably don't think things through as much as you do. If you wrote, "I worked at The XYZ Center ... daily tasks at the centre include ... " someone might decide you couldn't spell consistently rather than applaud the thinking behind it. I might avoid referring to "the center" except in giving its full title.
posted by galaksit at 12:24 PM on November 30, 2010
Anthro girl: "The situation John Cohen refers to is exactly what I am trying to avoid. So the question is then, should I use 'centre' in the name because I'm in England or should I stick with 'center' since it's more technically correct"
We have a pretty clear concensus from the posts above: only use "Center" when you are using it as a proper noun. John Cohen's example of "At the centre, I..." would be wrong because it should be a capitalised proper noun with the original spelling.
posted by turkeyphant at 1:34 PM on November 30, 2010
We have a pretty clear concensus from the posts above: only use "Center" when you are using it as a proper noun. John Cohen's example of "At the centre, I..." would be wrong because it should be a capitalised proper noun with the original spelling.
posted by turkeyphant at 1:34 PM on November 30, 2010
I had this issue when I lived in the US as a UK person. The etiquette is clear: use the spelling of your host country (unless, as someone else points out, you're talking about a company, place or thing whose normal spelling is US-style). It's just good manners. I made the effort to get used to writing "center", "color", "aluminum", "specialty", "labor" and on and on. One thing that makes it easier is to make sure your spell-checker is set to the appropriate country!
It is right that the author you mentioned was criticised (with an 's'!) for spelling "Labour Party" incorrectly. It is a British party and its name has a British spelling. Its name does not change when referred to by a non-British person.
posted by Decani at 1:46 PM on November 30, 2010
It is right that the author you mentioned was criticised (with an 's'!) for spelling "Labour Party" incorrectly. It is a British party and its name has a British spelling. Its name does not change when referred to by a non-British person.
posted by Decani at 1:46 PM on November 30, 2010
UK best practice: "The Center for Strategic and International Studies is one of the US's leading centres for policy research."
US best practice: "The Labour Party may be seen by some as distancing itself from its roots in the organized labor movement."
posted by Sidhedevil at 2:06 PM on November 30, 2010
US best practice: "The Labour Party may be seen by some as distancing itself from its roots in the organized labor movement."
posted by Sidhedevil at 2:06 PM on November 30, 2010
It is right that the author you mentioned was criticised (with an 's'!)
Ah now, this is a myth that seems to be very widespread here in the US. With a few exceptions, both -ize and -ise endings are perfectly acceptable in British English. The OED uses -ize as standard, and you can't say more authoritative than that.
posted by lapsangsouchong at 8:07 PM on November 30, 2010
Ah now, this is a myth that seems to be very widespread here in the US. With a few exceptions, both -ize and -ise endings are perfectly acceptable in British English. The OED uses -ize as standard, and you can't say more authoritative than that.
criticize, v.
Pronunciation: /ˈkrɪtɪsaɪz/
Forms: Also -ise.
Etymology: critic n.1 or Latin critic-us + -ize suffix.
1. a. intr. To play the critic; to pass judgement upon something with respect to its merits or faults. (Often connoting unfavourable judgement.)
posted by lapsangsouchong at 8:07 PM on November 30, 2010
Ah now, this is a myth that seems to be very widespread here in the US. With a few exceptions, both -ize and -ise endings are perfectly acceptable in British English.
Not when I went to school, laddie. Not when I went to school.
posted by Decani at 7:36 PM on March 19, 2011 [1 favorite]
Not when I went to school, laddie. Not when I went to school.
posted by Decani at 7:36 PM on March 19, 2011 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by modernnomad at 8:53 AM on November 30, 2010