Rozevult's List





Below, the Simplified Spelling Board's 300 simpler spellings, which U.S. President Teddy Roosevelt designated for use in government documents in August 1906, and the standard spellings they were to have replaced.



What seemed like a good idea - changing "through" to "thru," and so on - turned into a humiliating disaster. Newspapers mocked him as "Rozevult." A group formed in New York calling itself the "Through Memorial Association." Four months later, Congress voted 142-24 to overturn the order. (See related article.)



Roosevelt's Spelling Standard Spelling Roosevelt's Spelling Standard Spelling Roosevelt's Spelling Standard Spelling abridgment abridgement eon aeon, aeon pedobaptist paedobaptist, paedo- accouter accoutre epaulet epaulette phenix phoenix, phnix accurst accursed eponym eponyme phenomenon phaenomenon, phae- acknowledgment acknowledgement era aera, aera pigmy pygmy addrest addressed esophagus oesophagus, so- plow plough adz adze esthetic aesthetic, aesthetic polyp polype affixt affixed esthetics aesthetics, aesthetics possest possessed altho although estivate aestivate, aestivate practise practice anapest anapaest, anapaest ether aether, aether prefixt prefixed anemia anaemia, anaemia etiology aetiology, aetiology prenomen praenomen, praeno- anesthesia anaesthesia, anaes- exorcize exorcise prest pressed anesthetic anaesthetic, anaes- exprest expressed pretense pretence antipyrin antipyrine fagot faggot (bundle/sticks) preterit praeterite, praeterite antitoxin antitoxine fantasm phantasm pretermit praetermit, praeter- apothem apothegm fantasy phantasy primeval primaeval, -aeval apprize apprise fantom phantom profest professed arbor arbour favor favour program programme archeology archaeology, archae- favorite favourite prolog prologue ardor ardour fervor fervour propt propped armor armour fiber fibre pur purr artizan artisan fixt fixed quartet quartette assize assise flavor flavour questor quaestor, quaestor ax axe fulfil fulfill quintet quintette bans banns fulness fullness rancor rancour bark barque gage gauge rapt rapped behavior behaviour gazel gazelle raze rase blest blessed gelatin gelatine recognize recognise blusht blushed gild guild reconnoiter reconnoitre brazen brasen gipsy gypsy rigor rigour brazier brasier gloze glose rime rhyme bun bunn glycerin glycerine ript ripped bur burr good-by good-bye rumor rumour caliber calibre gram gramme saber sabre caliper calliper gript gripped saltpeter saltpetre candor candour harbor harbour savior saviour carest caressed harken hearken savor savour catalog catalogue heapt heaped scepter sceptre catechize catechise hematin haematin, haematin septet septette center centre hiccup hiccough sepulcher sepulchre chapt chapped hock hough sextet sextette check cheque homeopathy homoeopathy, -m- silvan sylvan checker chequer homonym homonyme simitar scimitar, cimiter chimera chimaera, chimaera honor honour sipt sipped civilize civilise humor humour sithe scythe clamor clamour husht hushed skilful skillful clangor clangour hypotenuse hypothenuse skipt skipped clapt clapped idolize idolise slipt slipped claspt clasped imprest impressed smolder smoulder clipt clipped instil instill snapt snapped clue clew jail gaol somber sombre coeval coaeval, coaeval judgment judgement specter spectre color colour kist kissed splendor splendour colter coulter labor labour stedfast steadfast commixt commixed lacrimal lachrymal stept stepped comprest compressed lapt lapped stopt stopped comprize comprise lasht lashed strest stressed confest confessed leapt leaped stript stripped controller comptroller legalize legalise subpena subpoena, subpna coquet coquette license licence succor succour criticize criticise licorice liquorice suffixt suffixed cropt cropped liter litre sulfate sulphate crost crossed lodgment lodgement sulfur sulphur crusht crushed lookt looked sumac sumach cue queue lopt lopped supprest suppressed curst cursed luster lustre surprize surprise cutlas cutlass mama mamma synonym synonyme cyclopedia cyclopaedia, -paedia maneuver manoeuvre, -uvre tabor tabour dactyl dactyle materialize materialise tapt tapped dasht dashed meager meagre teazel teasel, teasle, teazle decalog decalogue medieval mediaeval, -aeval tenor tenour defense defence meter metre theater theatre demagog demagogue mist missed tho though demeanor demeanour miter mitre thoro thorough deposit deposite mixt mixed thorofare thoroughfare deprest depressed mold mould thoroly thoroughly develop develope molder moulder thru through dieresis diaeresis, diaeresis molding moulding thruout throughout dike dyke moldy mouldy tipt tipped dipt dipped molt moult topt topped discust discussed mullen mullein tost tossed dispatch despatch naturalize naturalise transgrest transgressed distil distill neighbor neighbour trapt trapped distrest distressed nipt nipped tript tripped dolor dolour niter nitre tumor tumour domicil domicile ocher ochre valor valour draft draught odor odour vapor vapour dram drachm offense offence vext vexed drest dressed omelet omelette vigor vigour dript dripped opprest oppressed vizor visor droopt drooped orthopedic orthopaedic, -paedic wagon waggon dropt dropped paleography palaeography, -laeo- washt washed dulness dullness paleolithic palaeolithic, palaeo- whipt whipped ecumenical oecumenical, cu- paleontology palaeontology, -laeo- whisky whiskey edile aedile, aedile paleozoic palaeozoic, palaeo- wilful willful egis aegis, aegis paraffin paraffine winkt winked enamor enamour parlor parlour wisht wished encyclopedia encyclopaedia, -pae- partizan partisan wo woe endeavor endeavour past passed woful woeful envelop envelope patronize patronise woolen woollen Eolian Aeolian, AEolian pedagog paedagogue, paeda- wrapt wrapped

Note: About half of the "simplified spellings" here (e.g. color, center, traveled, and judgment) were already the standard American spellings and had been the ones used in all U.S. government documents for the previous four decades. It was only the other 150 or so spellings (e.g. stept, catalog, thru, and partizan ) that were actually being newly implemented.

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