Comments on: This Entry Has Been Brought to You by the Letter Zed

By: Deltus

Deltus — Sat, 09 Jun 2007 18:20:09 +0000

I might be picking nits here, but strictly speaking, the “u” isn’t superfluous. It’s how the word is supposed to be spelled. The vast majority of the English-spelling world can’t be wrong, by definition.

We are grateful, though, for the American addition of “y’all”. I like y’all. It’s a proper contraction, fills a hole in the language, and rolls off the tongue easily. I want to petition the OED and Websters to include it as a standardized English contraction.

By: Keith

Keith — Sat, 09 Jun 2007 14:26:14 +0000

I was actually grateful the Canadians use “zed,” because when I wrote a story last week about a radio station in Vancouver changing format and dropping their “Z95.3” slogan, I was able to use the headline “Zed’s Dead, Baby ... Zed’s Dead.”

Damn, I’m brilliant.

By: Nina

Nina — Sat, 09 Jun 2007 14:16:15 +0000

I never knew the “zed” thing until I was watching The Wiggles. They sing the alphabet song and at the end say something like “and zed…that’s zee for you Americans.”

By: Tanya

Tanya — Sat, 09 Jun 2007 11:52:51 +0000

I have no idea how it started, but I don’t think it’s likely to be a typo, because they don’t spell it “zed.” The A-Z map books (lifesaving if you have to drive in London), for example, are pronounced “A to Zed” but spelled with a regular Z.

I’m also 99% sure their alphabet song ends with “w, x, y , and zed.”

By: Joelle

Joelle — Sat, 09 Jun 2007 09:51:47 +0000

@Deltus: also perfectly reasonable theories! I’m more inclined to go with that, though the typo wouldn’t surprise me. haha! I’m sort of fond of the superfluous “u”, though.

@Manic Witch: Oh yeah! I recall that. I used to be an optometric tech, so I gave eye tests, too.

By: Manic Witch

Manic Witch — Sat, 09 Jun 2007 05:48:47 +0000

Indians (from India, not native americans) use Zed too. Whenever I would have them do the “eye chart” at work, they would say Zed.

By: Deltus

Deltus — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 22:41:40 +0000

It stems from periods in US past where anti-British sentiment caused them to want to differ the language from that of the British. Zed to zee was just one such language change. Dropping the U from words like neighbour and colour was another. Fortunately, growing up in Canada so near the US border, I am bilingual, and speak and write proper English and American English fluently.

By: Joelle

Joelle — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 21:06:52 +0000

@BJ : haha! I’m inclined to agree.

By: BJ

BJ — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 19:32:22 +0000

But if we use ‘zed’ instead of ‘zee’ the alphabet song won’t be nearly as lyrical.

w..x...y..and zed? No, I think zee makes more sense.

By: Joelle

Joelle — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 11:13:26 +0000

@Ms. Pants: you really must rent Idiocracy. It’s hilarious, but sometimes irritating because I find myself getting impatient with all the stupidity. It’s not the finest piece of cinematic work, but it’s pretty accurate and entertaining enough.