Webster's Losses

An interesting feature on Webster.com shows a good deal of Noah Webster's many attempts at reforming the spelling of the English language. Some lasted, some didn't, though all were intended to make English more logical, more phonetic and more aesthetically pleasing in its written form.

Some victories:

• gaol to jail
• masque to mask
• mould to mold

And some losses:

• ache to ake
• tongue to tung
• women to wimmen

You know, as in "My tung is aking for wimmen."

[ more at Webster.com ]