Q for Americans:

[Priapulidae]

I would very much like to know what paper standard is used in the United States. More exactly what paper size do most people use for their home computer printers. Is it A4, or letter, or what is it?

Trying to develop code for printing that has to work both in Europe and in the USA.

Thanks!

[pb&j]

most probably use letter size.
8.5 x 11 inches.

[me']

There's not much difference: letter is 8.5in x 11in, A4 is 8.26in x 11.69in.

[oracleguy]

most probably use letter size.
8.5 x 11 inches.

Correct.

[redhead]

Hmmm... I had never considered that the "standard" paper size in other coutries might not be the same as my own. Interesting.....

[Roy Sinclair]

Hmmm... I had never considered that the "standard" paper size in other coutries might not be the same as my own. Interesting.....

There is only one worldwide standard and that's not what we use here in the U.S., it's the same metric vs non-metric thing again.

[mindlessLemming]

Sometimes I feel that the US is to print and language standards what IE is to web standards... The rest of the world has to bend over backwards to accommodate them... Who hasn't spelt colour or centre correctly in their css once or twice? (except Americans, obviously!)

[jkd]

Sometimes I feel that the US is to print and language standards what IE is to web standards... The rest of the world has to bend over backwards to accommodate them... Who hasn't spelt colour or centre correctly in their css once or twice? (except Americans, obviously!)

Perhaps you mean spelled? :)

Besides, the spelling for center makes more sense the American way than the English way.

[mindlessLemming]

Perhaps you mean spelled? :)

LOL! And you'd never guess that I was an English major at Uni...
Oh well, that's what you get for posting after going out drinking with mates all night!
:o:o:D

[me']

Perhaps you mean spelled? :)You're kidding! Are you totally sure it's spelled? If so I've been speaking wrong all this time...

[redhead]

Slightly offtopic... Here in England "spelt" goes down fine as the past tense of "to spell". Slightly ironic, considering the topic of conversation :) Like centre/center and colour/color... maybe Columbus wasn't quite up to scratch with his English...

spelt2 ( P ) Pronunciation Key (splt)
v.

A past tense and a past participle of spell1. Edit: me' beat me to it. edit 2: I just tried to prove jkd wrong... I doubt i shall succeed...

[jkd]

Courtesy Merriam-Webster:


Main Entry: spelt
Pronunciation: 'spelt
chiefly British past and past participle of SPELL


spelled is still the most correct form of the word though. Silly brits ;). Just because you invented the language doesn't give you the right to butcher it. :D

[Roy Sinclair]

It wasn't until the 20th century that efforts to standardize the spelling of English words had much of an effect. I've got a "King James" bible from 1908 where "Noah" was spelled "Noe" and that's only one of many differences. Given that multiple efforts were undertaken it's surprising that so few things have to be accounted for between English speaking populations. You're better off working about not mistaking the difference between "diaper" and "napkin" since they have exactly opposite meanings depending on which side of the atlantic you're on. You don't want to wipe your mouth with the wrong one!

[mindlessLemming]

Hehehe..I never thought one word would start a debate like this... :D

[Roy Sinclair]

Not to mention that ultimate question which illustrates the strangness of the english language: "Why is it we park on driveways and drive on parkways?".

[me']

Just because you invented the language doesn't give you the right to butcher it. :DAnd the fact that you didn't invent it gives you even less right! *cough* colour *cough*

[jkd]

But why the superfluous "u"? There is no need of it. We're improving the spelling. ;)

[ronaldb66]

Hey, at least their motorways have a soft shoulder to cry on... :D