Difference between revisions of "Drier - dryer"
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| − | '''Drier''' and '''dryer''' are permissible variant spellings of the same words, derived from the [[adjective]] and [[adverb]] '''dry'''. | + | '''Drier''' and '''dryer''' are permissible variant spellings of the same words, derived from the [[adjective]] and [[adverb]] '''dry'''. Neither is wrong for either meaning, but usage is hardening in the direction here, which AWE advises you to follow. |
| + | *'''Dr<big>i</big>er''' is the spelling for the [[comparative form of the [[adjective]] '''dry'''. | ||
| + | *'''Dr<big>y</big>er''' is the spelling for the [[noun]], whether naming a machine, a chemical, or a person. Hence '''hair-dryer''', '''clothes-dryer''' and '''tumble-dryer''' are preferable spellings. | ||
| − | + | **This is not universal advice - this is a topic on which development is occurring, and unanimity has not been achieved. On a related spelling, the Concise ''[[A Dictionary of Modern English Usage|Dictionary of Modern English Usage]]'' (ed. Butterfield, 2016) observes, ''[[s.v.]]'' 'dr'''y'''ly', "As the adverb formed from ''dry'', this spelling is nowadays more common than ''drily'' throughout the English-speaking world. The spelling ''drily'' conforms to the rule that words ending in ''–y'' change it to ''–i'' before a suffix. Some people prefer it for that reason, especially in Br[itish] E[nglish], where it is still slightly more frequent than ''dryly''." | |
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{{wip}} | {{wip}} | ||
| + | [[Category:disambig]] | ||
[[Category:Alternative spellings]] | [[Category:Alternative spellings]] | ||
[[Category:spelling]] | [[Category:spelling]] | ||
Revision as of 14:50, 4 December 2020
Drier and dryer are permissible variant spellings of the same words, derived from the adjective and adverb dry. Neither is wrong for either meaning, but usage is hardening in the direction here, which AWE advises you to follow.
- Drier is the spelling for the [[comparative form of the adjective dry.
- Dryer is the spelling for the noun, whether naming a machine, a chemical, or a person. Hence hair-dryer, clothes-dryer and tumble-dryer are preferable spellings.
- This is not universal advice - this is a topic on which development is occurring, and unanimity has not been achieved. On a related spelling, the Concise Dictionary of Modern English Usage (ed. Butterfield, 2016) observes, s.v. 'dryly', "As the adverb formed from dry, this spelling is nowadays more common than drily throughout the English-speaking world. The spelling drily conforms to the rule that words ending in –y change it to –i before a suffix. Some people prefer it for that reason, especially in Br[itish] E[nglish], where it is still slightly more frequent than dryly."
