Written by Axe Throwing Tampa
Though most of us tend not to think about it, our modern rendition of English derives directly from the early modern British English. Though many of the words didn’t change, over time, the Americans tended to adopt different versions of some spellings, dropping letters in favor of a simpler language. Though this is occasionally complicated (Is it favour or favor? Is it theatre or theater? Is it colour or color?), for the most part, Americans utilize the simplified version while the Brits hold on to the formal spellings.
Continue Reading: 3min Read
Where Do Axe and Ax Originally Come From?
Originating from the Old English æx, which itself derived from the medieval Germanic tongues, the modern spelling of axe/ax is also passed down from the Dutch aaks and more modern German axt.
Defining Axe And Ax.
The word itself, can of course, be utilized both as a noun (I threw the axe and hit the bullseye) to mean the physical object with a wooden handle and iron sharp edge, and as a verb (My manager axed my job) to indicate the action of cutting off, ending, or canceling, whether it be physically or metaphorically.
So Which Spelling Should We Be Using? Axe Or Ax?
Within the United States, it is typical to utilize the ax spelling without the additional e. Axe is also utilized, but over the past few hundred years, ax has been the more common selection in the States. Axe is typically used in other English spellings outside of the United States as well, such as Ireland, Australia, and Canada. It is the original spelling of the word and more commonly found.
Examples Of Ax And Axe Being Used…
“Ryan’s budget axe comes down hardest on Medicaid – not Medicare.”
-Washington Post Wonkbook Blog
“Police say a call about Santa Claus running around a Buffalo Grove, III., neighborhood brandishing an ax turned out to be a student film project.”
-UPI.com
“Winnipeg Police are looking for suspects after three men were allegedly attacked with an axe late Friday night.”
-CBC
“Legislature: Youth receiving centers face budget ax.” -Salt Lake Tribune
“Last month, the district council put forward proposals to axe travel tokens for its residents to save 88,000 a year…”
-Herald Series
“Redditch United axe playing budget as manager leaves.”
-BBC News
If you find yourself asking the question ‘Is it ax or axe?’ know that ultimately, which spelling you choose is up to you.
Though ax and axe are simply two different spellings of the same word, which has many different uses and purposes in the grand scheme of life, if you find yourself asking the question “Is it ax or axe?” know that ultimately, which spelling you choose is up to you. If you’re writing a headline with a short word count, ax might be the better choice. If you’re writing an academic paper which might be read by those outside of the United States, axe might be the better choice.
One thing’s for sure – here at Tampa Axe Throwing, we don’t care which spelling you use. We just want to throw the bloody things with you!
Related Articles
Related
No Results Found
The page you requested could not be found. Try refining your search, or use the navigation above to locate the post.
Find Us: @axethrowingtampa
Join
Join Our E-Tribe
Get secret discounts that only the ATT Tribe sees, throwing tips from the pros, and our newest merch updates from the most badass axe throwers out there!
What are you waiting for?
Recent Comments