Skip to main content Access keys help BBC logo * Home * News * Sport * Radio * TV * Weather * Languages __________ go [an error occurred while processing this directive] Low graphics|Accessibility help BBC News watch One-Minute World News mobiles News services Your news when you want it News Front Page [USEMAP:v3_map_world_rb.gif] Africa Americas Asia-Pacific Europe Middle East South Asia UK England Northern Ireland Scotland Wales UK Politics Education Magazine Business Health Science & Environment Technology Entertainment Also in the news ----------------- Video and Audio ----------------- Programmes Have Your Say In Pictures Country Profiles Special Reports RELATED BBC SITES * SPORT * WEATHER * ON THIS DAY * EDITORS' BLOG Last Updated: Thursday, 5 June, 2003, 20:30 GMT 21:30 UK E-mail this to a friend Printable version Fight to save English spelling A teacher points out the British spelling of defence Teachers at Eight Ash Green in Essex insist on proper spelling A campaign is being launched to protect English words from being replaced by American spellings. Colchester MP Bob Russell wants to prevent youngsters from being shown words such as "utilize", "color" and "traveling". He wants to force computer companies to install spellchecking software which offers English instead of American definitions. Mr Russell said: "I also want the government to lead by example so all our schoolchildren, and the public generally, use the English spelling and not the American spelling." Many operating systems, such as Microsoft's Windows, already allow users to select the language they use on the computer. Endangered spelling? UK colour vs US color UK centre vs US center UK travelling vs US traveling UK analyse vs US analyze UK plough vs US plow But often popular web sites utilise American English. The primary school at Eight Ash Green in Essex, in Mr Russell's constituency, is sticking up for traditional British English. Headteacher Nick Rudman told BBC Look East that when pupils there leave the "u" out of the word labour, they are soon put right. E-mail this to a friend Printable version Essex BBC Essex Sport, travel, weather, things to do, features and much more SEE ALSO: Bridging the language divide 24 Apr 03 | UK An education in the States 13 Apr 02 | Education Divided by English 19 Jul 01 | UK News What does 'snog' mean? 17 Jul 01 | UK News Internet + English = Netglish 23 Mar 01 | UK News RELATED INTERNET LINKS: Comparison of British and American usage The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites TOP ESSEX STORIES British woman killed in Hong Kong Concern for missing 14-year-old UK soldier killed in blast named PRODUCTS AND SERVICES * E-mail news * Mobiles * Alerts * News feeds * Podcasts News Front Page | Africa | Americas | Asia-Pacific | Europe | Middle East | South Asia UK | Business | Entertainment | Science/Nature | Technology | Health Have Your Say | In Pictures | Week at a Glance | Country Profiles | In Depth | Programmes * BBC Copyright Notice MMIX Most Popular Now | 27,629 pages were read in the last minute."; 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