Re: The one already done

In a message dated 6/30/01 1:10:56 PM, dbell@GRAYWIZARD.NET writes:

<< >     The word "aero" isn't used enough to have its spelling
> changed.  I don't
> even know what it means by itself (something to do with "air"), or what an
> "aerodome" is.  Though no one would ever spell it "erodome".
> Wouldn't make
> sense.  Besides, the most popular use of the word "aero" is in
> "Aerosmith",
> so that's the spelling most would be familiar with, I say.
Off the top of my head: aerate, aerial, aerobic, aerodynamics, aeronautics,
aerosol, aerospace. >>

    I take it back: "aerobics" is more common than "Aerosmith".  "Aerosol"
may as well be a thing of the past, though.  The only place I hear it now is
in environmental/ecological contexts.  As for "aerate" and "aerial"...
Funniest thing.  I know these words, I know what they mean, and they're both
in my working vocabulary, but I don't think I've ever had to spell them, and
if I did, I would certainly be stumped.  I think I would (or, more
appropriately, "would have", since I won't anymore) spell "aerate" as
"arrate", and "aerial" as either "airial" or "arial".  In fact, I may have
even used the word "arial" in written text before...

<<"asthetic"? Really?  I suppose I have heard it pronounced as though it were
so spelled, I can't recall ever seeing it intentionally written that way.>>

    Well, you see, I learned this word in junior high, and I definitely
pronounced it with an /[/.  And I know for a fact that I and some others
spelled it without the "e" a few times.   I now spell it (and pronounce it)
"correctly".  But, yes, I know people who have intentionally spelled it that
way and would do it again, but it'd never come up in print.

-David