General Question

Hawaii_Jake's avatar

If you reside in the US, do you spell it theater or theatre?

Asked by Hawaii_Jake (37734points) June 21st, 2012

And why?

I spell it theater, because that’s what I was taught.

This question was prompted by a local theater’s use of both spellings on the same poster. :/

Observing members: 0 Composing members: 0

23 Answers

Mama_Cakes's avatar

(Not American. We use “theatre” and “centre” over here in Canada).

Strauss's avatar

I’ve always seen it spelled “theater”, excerpt when used as part of a theater’s name.

Response moderated (Unhelpful)
sinscriven's avatar

I use both.
“Theater” for places to see movies, and “Theatre” for artistic venues.

Response moderated (Off-Topic)
laurenkem's avatar

According to this, http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/theater, either spelling is correct. Perhaps it depends on how you were taught to spell it. Like @Yetanotheruser, I usually see it spelled “theater”, except when it’s part of the theater’s name.

Mama_Cakes's avatar

Of course, we use the Queen’s English over here. “Colour” and “neighbour”.

zenvelo's avatar

My seventh grade teacher emphasized that BOTH were correct and it was a matter of personal preference which one we used. (She was a bit of an anglophile). She also said we could pronounce it THEE-uh-ter or thee-AY-ter.

I pronounce “theater” as “THEE-uh-ter.”

syz's avatar

Theater. Doesn’t everyone?

ucme's avatar

I spell it the correct way, theatre. If I were to relocate to Outer Mongolia or the jungles of darkest Peru, this would remain consistent.

WestRiverrat's avatar

Locally they use theater for the motion picture halls and theatre for live performance halls.

mangeons's avatar

Theater, just because that’s how I was taught.

Both spellings are correct.

wilma's avatar

Theater, because I don’t have a queen.

Bill1939's avatar

I make the same distinction that @sinscriven does. Theater is for movies. I am a retired assistant director of a performing arts theatre.

Response moderated (Off-Topic)
JLeslie's avatar

Theater, unless the theatre itself uses theatre.

bolwerk's avatar

What is this display of linguistic dong shaking? The correct way to spell it is how a given society spells it. Pick whichever you want, but don’t pretend you spell it “correctly” because someone who sits on a throne might spell it the way you do.

So far as I know, only Americans spell it “theater,” and it was probably either one of the spelling reforms Noah Webster introduced or followed them to their logical conclusion.

marinelife's avatar

Theatre because I like it better.

Nullo's avatar

“Theater,” unless I’m trying to annoy someone, or if it seems more appropriate.

majorrich's avatar

I tend to go the way as @WestRiverrat er for film and re for live. Unless I come up on someone who is insistent on one spelling or the other, in which case I’ll use the other to pull their chain.

gailcalled's avatar

Ah, but how many pronounce them differently?

fluthernutter's avatar

I’m somewhere in between @sinscriven and @marinelife.

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