Computer program vs programme

See the following sentence for an example of this exception. When it comes to the other uses of program , however, programme is still preferred. Here is a helpful trick to remember programme vs. Program is the standard spelling of this word in American English, and in British English when referring to a piece of software.

For all other contexts in British English, choose programme instead. To help you remember this difference, notice that programme ends with an E , the same letter that begins the word England.

This shared letter is a useful way to remember that programme is standard where British English conventions hold sway. Based on your several comments, it looks like you have a broad knowledge of varieties of English. I think programme is still used in N. I also thought that a theatre you had a programme, but maybe its always program. In the UK, prior to the mass adoption of computers, the word was always programme. Program became widespread only in the computer industry and then only when referring to software instructions.

Nonetheless the distinction is useful! I have a program which downloads TV programmes. It is inconsistent with anagram, telegram, etc which share a similar etymology. O English, the exceptional language! The British English is my favourite and honourable. Comments tomo says.

Victoria News. An Irish scientist will feature in a BBC television programme on Wednesday night, to discuss the apparent health benefits of eating fermented foods. Do you find it easy to tell the difference between program and programme? Why not check out this article about the past tense of the verbs learn and label?

Real-time suggestions, wherever you write. Program vs. Shundalyn Allen. The computing sense of program is spelled the same way in both American and British English:. Google scientists have created a computer program that uses basic reasoning to learn to navigate the London Underground system by itself. When the verb program is shown in its —ed or —ing form, the end consonant is doubled; when programme is shown the same way, the end —e is dropped. This results in the same spelling for both variants in the past tense programmed and present participle programming.

English has a number of other words ending in —gram that derive from graphein , including diagram , epigram , and those words formed with the combining form -gram , such as telegram.

There are some exceptions. For example, the British noun aerogram , referring to a letter sent over air mail, is sometimes spelled aerogramme. Sardoodledom Scripps Bee clip goes viral.

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