Different spelling of names

Question

A question to our British and American friends here: what do you do spelling-wise when you have to write the name of an institution from the 'other' country?

Case in point: the American Center for International Labor Solidarity in a text that follows the British spelling. Keeping the spelling as it stands seems right because it's a name but then I'd have a few "centers" and a few "centres" in the text, same for labor and labour. Changing it would smooth the text but I'm reluctant to do that.

Thank you in advance!

I agree with you. I would be reluctant also. For me, I wouldn't change it. - rac1, Nov 11, 2015

I would stick to the original. If it is an American institution even I would have to accept that it it's spelling, but if I were to see a Britsh institution written in American I would actually think the writer ignorant. - annierats, Nov 11, 2015

I'm sure all writers tremble now, frightened as they are of my opinion! - annierats, Nov 11, 2015

Answer 1

Writing for a UK audience, you would be wise to follow the very useful Guardian and Observer style guide, which in this instance says:

Follow US spellings for proper nouns, eg Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Department of Defense, Labor Day, One World Trade Center

Labour Day! I would never read an article that couldn't spell 'labour'. Even if it is correct in America.. - annierats, Nov 11, 2015

It doesn't depend whether the article is speaking of your Labour Day or our Labor Day? - jtaniel, Nov 11, 2015

Bravo annierats. yo tambien - tomasdeAlba, Nov 11, 2015

Well then I won't read any article that doesn't spell it the American way. Ha! - jtaniel, Nov 11, 2015

Spanish "labor" American English "labor" Two to one wins. :) - Daniela2041, Nov 12, 2015

And it's always pronounced kílo-meter (a thousand meters) not kil ómeter (an instrument that measures "kil" whatever that is.) - Jubilado, Nov 12, 2015

Thank you, exactly what I was looking for, only I didn't know how to phrase it. :-) - Manity, Nov 12, 2015

Answer 2

If you would like to know who is responsible for these differences in spelling it is the Mr Noah Webster of dictionary fame, who was trying to differentiate the language used in the United States from that used by the "conquistadores" in England.

Click here for more info.

Wow! Great link. Thanks, Ian. xo - rac1, Nov 11, 2015

Couldn't leave well enough alone. - rac1, Nov 11, 2015

Thanks, Ian, I had no idea. The amount of energy that goes into silly stuff... - Manity, Nov 12, 2015

Answer 3

"Labour Party" is the name of a political party, labor is what one is supposed to

do when one is gainfully employed.