The key to good spelling is to be consistent

As a complete pedant when it comes to correct spelling, punctuation and grammar, I am in a quandary since moving home.

Why? Because there seems to be some debate as to the correct spelling of the name of my road and house.

I thought it was Flistridge Cottage, and Flistridge Road, until I saw the road sign which put in an ‘e’ and spelt it ‘Flisteridge’.

Dutifully, I adopted the new version and put an ‘e’ in all my change of address details (and when moving house there are a vast number of organisations with which you need to change your address, let alone all your personal and business contacts).

When I use any on-line ‘find your address’ facilities, however, Flisteridge is always spelt without the ‘e’. So, even if I have put in the ‘e’ it’s invariably omitted when I look at how my mail is addressed.

I’ve looked at maps old and new and sometimes the ‘e’ is there and sometimes not. The Land Registry appears to use the ‘e’ but Royal Mail does not.

Does any of this matter? In some ways no; if there is a debate as to a correct spelling, then any dictionary version is acceptable.

This applies to some every day words. For example, socialise and socialize are both correct (although I tend to regard using a ‘z’ as an Americanisation and stick to an ‘s’. Perhaps that should be Americanization?)

Spelt and spelled mean the same and both are correct. As for flammable and inflammable – strange one that; different words, same meaning.

The best rule to use is pick one version and stick to it. If your website copy is littered with the word ‘enquiry’, which you sometimes spell as ‘inquiry’, then you come across as inconsistent.

If you decide to capitalise (or capitalize?) certain words like ‘Marketing Plan’ then don’t suddenly switch to lower case ‘marketing plan’.

By having an attention to detail on your website, then clients will know you offer that same level of service in your business.

So should I have Flisteridge with or without an ‘e’? I think with.