English language question

[jacob navia]

The english word "Initialized" exists. (Cambridge dictionary finds it).
The word "Uninitialized" doesn't seem to exist, and no dictionary
has it. I am using that word very often in my tutorial of the C language
with

"uninitialized memory".

Word flags this as a spelling error and tells me that the correct spelling
is

"uninitialised" with s
and NOT
"uninitialized" with z.

Can anyone here tell me what word should be used in correct english?

Thanks in advance

jacob

 

[Malcolm]

"uninitialised" with s
and NOT
"uninitialized" with z.

Can anyone here tell me what word should be used in correct
english?

"s" is the English spelling, and therefore correct, whilst "z" is American
and just plain wrong.

Seriously, the "z" "s" distinction is breaking down because of the volume of
transatlantic communication, but "s" seems to be slowly winning. Your
spell-checker is too strict.

 

[jacob navia]

Seriously, the "z" "s" distinction is breaking down because of the volume of
transatlantic communication, but "s" seems to be slowly winning. Your
spell-checker is too strict.

Ahhh again this english/american differences.

OK. Thanks

 

[SM Ryan]

# Word flags this as a spelling error and tells me that the correct spelling

Spell checkers don't decide what is english; english speaking people
do. I can't imagine an native speakers who can't correctly understand
either spelling.

Unless you're sitting in a wagon by the curb outside the gaol after
your cheque bounced, I wouldn't worry about too much.

 

[Lew Pitcher]

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SM Ryan wrote:
[snip]
| Unless you're sitting in a wagon by the curb outside the gaol after
| your cheque bounced, I wouldn't worry about too much.

I've never sat outside a gaol, but I have driven past a jail.

OTOH, I sometimes sit in a wagon by the curb, contemplating the colour of my
cheque book.

"I am Canadian" [1]


[1] The slogan for a Canadian beer, named "Canadian", and the end tag of a
well-known 'rant' distinguishing Canadians from Americans.

- --
Lew Pitcher

Master Codewright & JOAT-in-training | GPG public key available on request
Registered Linux User #112576 (http://counter.li.org/)
Slackware - Because I know what I'm doing.
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[Allin Cottrell]

The english word "Initialized" exists. (Cambridge dictionary finds it).
The word "Uninitialized" doesn't seem to exist, and no dictionary
has it. I am using that word very often in my tutorial of the C language
with

"uninitialized memory".

Word flags this as a spelling error and tells me that the correct spelling
is

"uninitialised" with s
and NOT
"uninitialized" with z.

Word is apparently set to approve only British English.

"Uninitialized" is perfectly OK American/international English.

 

[Jack Klein]

The english word "Initialized" exists. (Cambridge dictionary finds it).
The word "Uninitialized" doesn't seem to exist, and no dictionary
has it. I am using that word very often in my tutorial of the C language
with

"uninitialized memory".

Word flags this as a spelling error and tells me that the correct spelling
is

"uninitialised" with s
and NOT
"uninitialized" with z.

Can anyone here tell me what word should be used in correct english?

Thanks in advance

Jacob,

Is it true that the word "uninitialized" does not appear in the C
language standard.

But the words "initialize", "initialized", and "initializer" all do,
and are all spelled with the 'z' (that is, American style) and not
with the 's' (UK style). This is true of both the PDF versions from
ANSI/NCITS, and the hard copy printed version from the British
Standards Institution that has been in print for a year or so.

I would suggest using the 'z' for consistency with the spelling of the
related words that are in the standard.

Of course that is why Word has the "add" option in the spell checker.
Amazingly enough, as it comes new from Microsoft, it does not think
that "printf", "strlen", or "memcpy" are words, until I add them!

 

[E. Robert Tisdale]

The english word "Initialized" exists. (Cambridge dictionary finds it).
The word "Uninitialized" doesn't seem to exist,
and no dictionary has it.

It's standard jargon.

I am using that word very often in my tutorial of the C language with

"uninitialized memory".

Word flags this as a spelling error
and tells me that the correct spelling is

"uninitialised" with s

This spelling is correct in the United Kingdom.

and NOT

"uninitialized" with z.

This spelling is correct in the United States.

Can anyone here tell me what word should be used in correct English?

Both are correct. You can use either one.
Please, just try to be consistent.

 

[Richard Bos]

Word is apparently set to approve only British English.

"Uninitialized" is perfectly OK American/international English.

Erm, it is a typical USAnian misapprehension that theirs is the
"international" version of the language. It isn't. I learned proper
English at school - the original, international kind.

Richard

 

[Severian]

# Word flags this as a spelling error and tells me that the correct spelling

Spell checkers don't decide what is english; english speaking people
do. I can't imagine an native speakers who can't correctly understand
either spelling.

Unless you're sitting in a wagon by the curb outside the gaol after
your cheque bounced, I wouldn't worry about too much.

By the kerb, damn yank.

 

[Dan Pop]

Word is apparently set to approve only British English.

"Uninitialized" is perfectly OK American/international English.

Agreed for American, but I have yet to see a proper definition of
"International English".

Dan

 

[Dan Pop]

I would suggest using the 'z' for consistency with the spelling of the
related words that are in the standard.

Nonsense! The C standard doesn't define the English language. Use
whatever version you prefer, as long as you're consistent, i.e. you don't
spell "initialization" and "organisation".

Dan

 

[Dan Pop]

The english word "Initialized" exists. (Cambridge dictionary finds it).
The word "Uninitialized" doesn't seem to exist, and no dictionary
has it.

Think what happened if dictionaries attempted to handle all the possible
prefixes for all the words accepting them. Many obvious cases are
deliberately omitted.

I am using that word very often in my tutorial of the C language
with

"uninitialized memory".

When in doubt, try a Google search for the whole expression and see how
many "reliable" hits you get.

Word flags this as a spelling error and tells me that the correct spelling
is

"uninitialised" with s
and NOT
"uninitialized" with z.

Can anyone here tell me what word should be used in correct english?

I can't believe that it took you so long to discover the s/z issue.
Ten years from now, you may also fall upon the ou/o issue (as in
"colour" vs "color").

Your Word was configured for UK English. Configure it for US English and
it should happily accept "uninitialized" and flag "uninitialised" as an
error.

Neither is more/less correct than the other, in an international context.
Choose whatever English flavour you prefer and use it consistently.

Dan

 

[Thomas Matthews]

By the kerb, damn yank.

That's "curb", damy brit.


--
Thomas Matthews

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Other sites:
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[Walter L. Preuninger II]

I am interested in why there has not been a 'this is off topic for c.l.c'
post.

Walter L. Preuninger II

 

[David Logan]

I am interested in why there has not been a 'this is off topic for c.l.c'
post.

Walter L. Preuninger II

In <[email protected]> Jack Klein


Nonsense! The C standard doesn't define the English language. Use
whatever version you prefer, as long as you're consistent, i.e. you don't
spell "initialization" and "organisation".

Dan

I was wondering the same thing, considering the hammers that people
usually let loose when an off-topic post is posted

David Logan

 

[CBFalconer]

Nonsense! The C standard doesn't define the English language.
Use whatever version you prefer, as long as you're consistent,
i.e. you don't spell "initialization" and "organisation".

However Canadians are naturally confused, being simultaneously
attacked from childhood on all spelling fronts by intolerant
adjacent spellmeisters. This will not be resolved until we
acheive Canadian hegemony. (and then we have to worry about
Quebec).

 

[Jack Klein]

Nonsense! The C standard doesn't define the English language. Use
whatever version you prefer, as long as you're consistent, i.e. you don't
spell "initialization" and "organisation".

Dan

You are absolutely correct. If Jacob does not mind being
inconsistent, he can use "uninitialised". But if he uses
"initialisation" or "initialised" he is using terms not defined in the
standard, not by BSI, ANSI, or ISO.

6.7.8 of the current standard defines "initialization". It does not
define "initialisation", even if, according to you, they mean the same
thing in English.

You of all people should know that the standard says exactly what it
literally says, no more and no less.

 

[Allin Cottrell]

Erm, it is a typical USAnian misapprehension that theirs is the
"international" version of the language. It isn't. I learned proper
English at school - the original, international kind.

I'm a Brit moi-meme, but it's only realism to recognize that the
"English" that constitutes an international language in the
21st century is primarily American English. (In the days of the
British Empire, things were different).

As a footnote, I'd suggest that in most contexts the -ize
suffix is in fact perfectly good UK English (as measured by
reputable English dictionaries, not MS Word). Insistence
upon the -ise form as uniquely "correct" is false pedantry.

Allin Cottrell

 

[J. J. Farrell]

The english word "Initialized" exists. (Cambridge dictionary finds it).
The word "Uninitialized" doesn't seem to exist, and no dictionary
has it. I am using that word very often in my tutorial of the C language
with

"uninitialized memory".

Word flags this as a spelling error and tells me that the correct spelling
is

"uninitialised" with s
and NOT
"uninitialized" with z.

Can anyone here tell me what word should be used in correct english?

Uninitialized is a new word, primarily used in computer jargon
still. I expect it will appear in the dictionaries sooner or
later, but it is unquestionably the word to use in this context.

As for spelling it ... in the USA you will mostly come across
'initialize'. In Britain you will come across both 'initialize'
and 'initialise'. The great H. W. Fowler, a 20th century English
scholar often regarded as The Authority on British English,
recommended 'initialize' as the correct form. He regarded
'initialise' as a French-influenced corruption.

[It's ironic that American English seems to suffer much more from
French corruption these days. It always tickles me when I hear
Americans pronounce words such as 'valet', 'fillet' and 'herb' as
if they were modern French - can't help thinking of Miss Piggy's
"Pretentious??? Moi???"]