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Herculis 1d
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Right Boffins, just bought and finished, I think.
BUT
Which way do you go with the perennial argument re the Z versus S argument?
BUT
Which way do you go with the perennial argument re the Z versus S argument?
Answers
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THIS can be spelt with either the S or Z have looked in a number of my dictionary and most give Z but also S can be the spelling. it seems that Z is more hits on google I am tempted to put z/s but they never publish an alternative spelling, last week there was Griffin and this was discused could be griffon and both would be accepted griffin was given as the answer, will see what the answer is next week and best thing is to write to Kate M at the telegraph and ask if words can be spelt two ways what is the policy as not good enough to miss out on one letter.
good Luck
good Luck
Apologies, Sarumite, for not having looked at earlier questions/answers but thanks anyway.
At my school you were ticked off if you used Z as it was regarded as archaic. A friend of mine at another, rather older, school would be told off for using S as an "Americanism"!!
Anyway what with spellcheck we will soon only use Websters and Chambers et al will be out the window!
At my school you were ticked off if you used Z as it was regarded as archaic. A friend of mine at another, rather older, school would be told off for using S as an "Americanism"!!
Anyway what with spellcheck we will soon only use Websters and Chambers et al will be out the window!
I know there are those who disagree, but I firmly believe that these arguable solutions are part of the compilers art. Some of the tabloids publish crosswords which are literally full of them, but here in the Telegraph we seem to get one each week. It is noticable that the doubtful letter never has a crossing clue to define what is needed.
-- answer removed --
This same dilemma will also strike those solving EV777.
I was always told that the Z-version comes from the Latin and the S-version is Greek. Personally, I prefer the Greek (anglicised) version, but most spellcheckers (in my experience) have american origins and prefer the Roman Z-version.
Whenever presented with a choice in a crossword grid, I would use S ~ but would expect both versions to be accepted as correct.
I was always told that the Z-version comes from the Latin and the S-version is Greek. Personally, I prefer the Greek (anglicised) version, but most spellcheckers (in my experience) have american origins and prefer the Roman Z-version.
Whenever presented with a choice in a crossword grid, I would use S ~ but would expect both versions to be accepted as correct.
My input to this thread has been deleted. It was
I know there are those who disagree, but I firmly believe that these arguable solutions are part of the compilers art. Some of the tabloids publish crosswords which are literally full of them, but here in the Telegraph we seem to get one each week. It is noticable that the doubtful letter never has a crossing clue to define what is needed.
I know there are those who disagree, but I firmly believe that these arguable solutions are part of the compilers art. Some of the tabloids publish crosswords which are literally full of them, but here in the Telegraph we seem to get one each week. It is noticable that the doubtful letter never has a crossing clue to define what is needed.
I've just dug out my copy of Fowler's Modern English Usage. The original rule was that if a word's origin had a Greek ending in -izo then it should be Z, if it was of a Latin or French origin then it is S. That said Fowler goes on to say that whilst the OED, OUP, Encyclopaedia Brit, The Times etc all prefer -ize. There are certain words that can only be spelled with -ise (advertise, devise, surprise etc) Fowler finishes off by saying "The difficulty in remembering which these -ise verbs are is in fact the only reason for making -ise universal, & the sacrifice of significance to ease does not seem just justified."
So pedants Z, and those of us who do not know their Greek can get away with S. By the way appetitus is Latin.
So pedants Z, and those of us who do not know their Greek can get away with S. By the way appetitus is Latin.
Where there is an alternative spelling, the compilers try extremely hard to make sure that the ambiguity is removed by a solution that crosses it. Where there is genuine ambiguity then, yes, alternative spellings would be acceptable, but we aim for this not to happen.
Kate Fassett (Telegraph Crossword Editor)
The Weekend team strive to avoid ambiguity at all times. However, this
is sometimes unavoidable. Rest assured that where a known alternative is
used in a solution that has been sent in it will be accepted.
Unfortunately, there is no way of representing this in the solution grid
that is published the following week.
(Kate Mepham and her editor Jon Stock)
Surely it is better that we take their word for it than raise this issue again and again and again?
Kate Fassett (Telegraph Crossword Editor)
The Weekend team strive to avoid ambiguity at all times. However, this
is sometimes unavoidable. Rest assured that where a known alternative is
used in a solution that has been sent in it will be accepted.
Unfortunately, there is no way of representing this in the solution grid
that is published the following week.
(Kate Mepham and her editor Jon Stock)
Surely it is better that we take their word for it than raise this issue again and again and again?
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