User talk:86.136.175.11

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[edit] National varieties of English

In recent edits to the pages John Smith of Jamestown, Christopher Newport and John Rolfe, you changed one or more words from one international variety of English to another. Because Wikipedia has readers from all over the world, our policy is to respect national varieties of English in Wikipedia articles.

For subjects exclusively related to Britain (for example, a famous British person), use British English. For something related to the United States in the same way, use American English. If it is an international topic, use the same form of English the original author used.

In view of that, please don't change articles from one version of English to the other, even if you don't normally use the version the article is written in. Respect other people's versions of English. They in turn should respect yours. Other general guidelines on how Wikipedia articles are written can be found in the Wikipedia:Manual of Style. If you have any queries about all this, just ask anyone on Wikipedia and they will help you.
In the case of the Jamestown settlers, although the individuals in question were English, they are notable for their role in American history. (It's also worth remembering that there was no standardized — or standardised — spelling in English at the time of Jamestown's settlement.) The Jamestown articles are about American subjects, so should retain U.S. spelling. Thank you. —Josiah Rowe (talk • contribs) 15:16, 14 August 2007 (UTC)

I didn't alter any article on Jamestown: I altered articles on English people. They were not US citizens, they contributed to British and British Empire history and not the history of the United States of America. The Jamestown article pertains to a place in America so that obviously should remain in American English. As it is articles on English people should (by convention) be in English rather than American English. Articles about British people in America are typically supposed to be in English, rather than the American dialect, unless they are also US citizens. John Smith, Christopher Newport and John Rolfe were famous British people. 86.136.175.11 16:52, 14 August 2007 (UTC)

I've changed them back, Smith and Newport should certainly be in English rather than American English, as they were more explorers and adventurers than colonists. As all three were English I can't really understand your objections, even Wikipedia rules seem to support me in this. 86.136.175.11 16:58, 14 August 2007 (UTC)

Let's discuss it one one of the articles' talk pages, and see what the consensus of other editors is. My feeling is that all three are more significant for their role in American history than for their role in British history, but I'll go with whatever consensus develops. I'll see you at Talk:Christopher Newport (because there's a specific question relating to that article). —Josiah Rowe (talk • contribs) 19:14, 14 August 2007 (UTC)