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Why Americans write 'canceled' but still write 'cancellation.' How printing history gave us 'fine print.' Fluff.
Episode 1059

Why Americans write 'canceled' but still write 'cancellation.' How printing history gave us 'fine print.' Fluff.

1059. Ever wonder why Americans use "canceled" with one L but still write "cancellation" with two? We explore how spelling rules, stress patterns, and historical quirks explain this inconsistency. Plus, we look at the history of "fine print" — from typesetting in smoky print shops to its modern use in hiding legal loopholes.

Grammar Girl: For Writers and Language Lovers. · Mignon Fogarty, Inc.

February 25, 202515m 52s

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Show Notes

1059. Ever wonder why Americans use "canceled" with one L but still write "cancellation" with two? We explore how spelling rules, stress patterns, and historical quirks explain this inconsistency. Plus, we look at the history of "fine print" — from typesetting in smoky print shops to its modern use in hiding legal loopholes. 

The "fine print" segment was by Glenn Fleishman, a typesetter, graphic designer, journalist, print historian, and author of the book “How Comics Were Made: A Visual History from the Drawing Board to the Printed Page,” which you can find at howcomicsweremade.ink.

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