Marshall,
"Doubt" is even stronger evidence for the power of fashion. The word was borrowed from French probably in the 13th c., and without the b, following the French spelling. In the 14th c., the b started to appear occasionally under the influence of Latin, although the word was not borrowed directly from Latin. The spelling "dought" also starts showing up. By the 17th c., the b spelling had taken over, but at that time also the b disappeared completely in the French spelling.
Thanks for bringing up the word.
Herb
From: Assembly for the Teaching of English Grammar [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Myers, Marshall
Sent: Sunday, August 07, 2011 11:21 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Usage question
Paul,
Alright or all right is a curious one.
Some sources accept both forms, since alright dates back into the 19th century.
But the book we use here for Freshman English, ST MARTIN'S HANDBOOK, does not accept alright, concluding: "Avoid the spelling of alright."
Language is comparable to fashion: Spelling, among other things, is acceptable if the vast majority of people say it is. And we have got some rather strange spellings for certain words. Pneumonia and doubt are good examples. Doubt is spelled with a b because that letter appears in the Latin language from which it was borrowed. Pneumonia is spelled with the p probably because it was spelled that way in Attic Greek, and Greek was one of the language of scholarship, like Latin. Those examples don't make a whole lot of sense, but we have agreed that they are spelled that way.
So I would use all right in formal writing, and alright in less formal settings. It is very likely that in the future the alright will be an acceptable form for both formal and informal writing. In my mind that will be a good day.
I hope that answers your question.
Marshall
From: Assembly for the Teaching of English Grammar [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Paul E. Doniger
Sent: Sunday, August 07, 2011 10:00 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Usage question
It has often puzzled me that the spelling 'alright' has never been accepted as standard. It clearly could distinguish a difference between "Completely correct" (all right) and "completely safe" (alright) in meaning (similar to all together and altogether). Has anyone on the list any information or experience about this usage issue that would explain why the usage police won't accept this spelling?
Thanks,
Paul D.
"If this were play'd upon a stage now, I could condemn it as an improbable fiction" (_Twelfth Night_ 3.4.127-128).
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