[ixus_123]

How do I change os X's system spell check (that Mail, text edit etc use) from American English to UK English (INternational standard english).

It gets a bit annoying being told words are spelt wrong when they are clearly correct.

[Lew]

IIRC, you go to System Preferences and select International. On the Language tab click on Edit and make sure British English is checked and click OK. Then drag British English to the top of the list.

[ixus_123]

It only has options for "english" and 4 other languages. There is no variation on the english bit - all other region settings are set to UK though.

[Developer]

Originally posted by ixus_123:
It only has options for "english" and 4 other languages. There is no variation on the english bit - all other region settings are set to UK though.

You can add UK English to the list in System Preferences by clicking the Edit... button there.
But to change the spell checking you go to Edit->Spelling->Spelling... in the application you want to spell check (like Text Edit) and change the dictionary in that dialog.

[ixus_123]

Thanks a lot that has worked perfectly

On a side note though I must admit I am pissed about Apple prefixing the English language as "British English" where-as american non-international, non enlglish spelt version of english is refered to as plain "english" not American English. Although some may find this trivial I find it an urgent cause for concern. You can't just hijack a language Apple - you desreve a slap on yhe wrist.

I know this is turning into a rant and off-topic but I really feel it needs to be said.

[Brass]

Originally posted by ixus_123:
Thanks a lot that has worked perfectly

On a side note though I must admit I am pissed about Apple prefixing the English language as "British English" where-as american non-international, non enlglish spelt version of english is refered to as plain "english" not American English. Although some may find this trivial I find it an urgent cause for concern. You can't just hijack a language Apple - you desreve a slap on yhe wrist.

I know this is turning into a rant and off-topic but I really feel it needs to be said.

I agree. Where do they think English came from in the first place? By the looks of it, not England!

[willed]

Originally posted by Brass:
I agree. Where do they think English came from in the first place? By the looks of it, not England!

I think they should call it English English. To make a point.

[Appleman]

Originally posted by Brass:
I agree. Where do they think English came from in the first place?

Hm, The Netherlands?

[aaanorton]

Originally posted by ixus_123:
Thanks a lot that has worked perfectly

On a side note though I must admit I am pissed about Apple prefixing the English language as "British English" where-as american non-international, non enlglish spelt version of english is refered to as plain "english" not American English. Although some may find this trivial I find it an urgent cause for concern. You can't just hijack a language Apple - you desreve a slap on yhe wrist.

I know this is turning into a rant and off-topic but I really feel it needs to be said.

You are 100% correct. This is an OT rant.

[King Bob On The Cob]

Originally posted by Brass:
I agree. Where do they think English came from in the first place? By the looks of it, not England!

English like all Anglo-Saxon Launguages (Which includes German as well) came from tribes that lived in northern Germany. When they invaded England they brought their language with them.

[CharlesS]

Originally posted by ixus_123:
Thanks a lot that has worked perfectly

On a side note though I must admit I am pissed about Apple prefixing the English language as "British English" where-as american non-international, non enlglish spelt version of english is refered to as plain "english" not American English. Although some may find this trivial I find it an urgent cause for concern. You can't just hijack a language Apple - you desreve a slap on yhe wrist.

I know this is turning into a rant and off-topic but I really feel it needs to be said.

Hmm, I didn't know the Brits spelled "English", "deserve" and "the" that way...

[ixus_123]

Hmm, I didn't know the Brits spelled "English", "deserve" and "the" that way...

Ha Ha LMAO - excellent

however in keeping with the original topic it just goes to show how much I need that spell-check

[ixus_123]

English like all Anglo-Saxon Launguages (Which includes German as well) came from tribes that lived in northern Germany. When they invaded England they brought their language with them.

True a lot comes from the Germanic laguages but also Celtic and Latin bases. England has been invaded so many times through the ages that the language is just a big mix-match of things. I suppose you can also assume many words were brought back from other countries when we started our stage of plundering the world a few hundred years ago.

[moonmonkey]

Originally posted by ixus_123:
True a lot comes from the Germanic laguages but also Celtic and Latin bases. England has been invaded so many times through the ages that the language is just a big mix-match of things. I suppose you can also assume many words were brought back from other countries when we started our stage of plundering the world a few hundred years ago.

What!! you means the germans did invade??

[Developer]

Originally posted by moonmonkey:
What!! you means the germans did invade??

[Xeo]

There's a simple reason why it says "English" and "British English." The guy who sat down and wrote it was American. In America, we see English as what we speak, and British English as every other English. It's just a matter of point-of-view.

Maybe they should make it change what it says if you choose the U.K. as your location. Then your choices are English and American English. Of course, it's purely aesthetic but no doubt worth it.

[Lew]

Originally posted by Xeo:
Maybe they should make it change what it says if you choose the U.K. as your location. Then your choices are English and American English. Of course, it's purely aesthetic but no doubt worth it.

That's exactly the sort of 'little touch' I'd expect from Apple

[macintologist]

Originally posted by ixus_123:
Thanks a lot that has worked perfectly

On a side note though I must admit I am pissed about Apple prefixing the English language as "British English" where-as american non-international, non enlglish spelt version of english is refered to as plain "english" not American English. Although some may find this trivial I find it an urgent cause for concern. You can't just hijack a language Apple - you desreve a slap on yhe wrist.

I know this is turning into a rant and off-topic but I really feel it needs to be said.

I go to an international school where about 20% of the student body is american and the rest are a wide variety of nationalities from many continents. I can assure you that American English as well American pronunciation and vocab usage (eraser not rubber, secreTARY not 'secretry' etc) is the preferred way of speaking and writing english. From my experiences, I've found that most people who learn english by themselves prefer the american style. So I wouldnt consider American English to be non-international like you said. Same thing in music terms. Everyone including the americans say quarter-notes, eighth-notes (tranlated into their respected languages of course if they don't learn music in english) whereas the English are the only ones whos say crotchet and quaver.

[macintologist]

However, I do agree that Apple should call it American English and British English, even though I prefer it as it is

[ixus_123]

I go to an international school where about 20% of the student body is american and the rest are a wide variety of nationalities from many continents. I can assure you that American English as well American pronunciation and vocab usage (eraser not rubber, secreTARY not 'secretry' etc) is the preferred way of speaking and writing english. From my experiences, I've found that most people who learn english by themselves prefer the american style. So I wouldnt consider American English to be non-international like you said. Same thing in music terms. Everyone including the americans say quarter-notes, eighth-notes (tranlated into their respected languages of course if they don't learn music in english) whereas the English are the only ones whos say crotchet and quaver.

I bet your international school is in America though.

In terms of refering to english english (not "british") I was refering to it being taught as that in every country that I've been to for sure -France, Spain, India, Singapore, etc and that it is now that standard for international air traffic control and science papers.

As I understand it Spanish is widely spoken in the US. Do they have *Spanish* and then another box for one to check - Spanish-spanish (eu)

[Appleman]

Originally posted by ixus_123:
Do they have *Spanish* and then another box for one to check - Spanish-spanish (eu)

You'll be surprised. Take a look in International:

Français
Français canadien
Français suisse

Deutsch
Österreichisches Deutsch
Schweicher Deutsch

Português
Português de Portugal
Português do Brasil

slovenski
slovensky (have no idea what's the difference here though)

English
British English
Australian English
U.S. English

and:
two Asiatic languages which looks very alike, guess Chinese and Simplified Chinese?

[macintologist]

Originally posted by ixus_123:
I bet your international school is in America though

wrong again. Check my location. There are hundreds (maybe thousands) of international schools around the globe.

[ixus_123]

wrong again. Check my location

duh - lol Yeah I ghuess I should pay more attention.

I have to admit I prefer the American spelling of thru to our through.

[macintologist]

Originally posted by ixus_123:
duh - lol Yeah I ghuess I should pay more attention.

I have to admit I prefer the American spelling of thru to our through.

Its not an official spelling. I don't spell it that way.

For some reason I like behaviour better with a U but not colour or others like that.