this post was submitted on 14 Jul 2024
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[โ€“] zarkanian@sh.itjust.works 1 points 4 months ago (1 children)

If enough people are using one spelling, then that becomes a new spelling.

If enough people are doing it, then it must be in dictionaries. Which dictionaries have accepted this alternate spelling?

[โ€“] Carrot 3 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago)

I mean, I found it in two pretty substantial dictionaries after a quick search: https://www.dictionary.com/browse/sike https://www.oed.com/search/dictionary/?scope=Entries&q=sike

Along with countless other dictionaries that cover slang and alternate spellings, but I figured you wouldn't think that those counted.

But I will say that if being in a dictionary is a requirement for a word being part of the English language, you're not accounting for a large portion of modern American/Internet vernacular. People who actually study language would never have this take, as languages are made up of the words people actually use, not the words that a board of folks decide to put into a list.