Actually, we spell it "artifact" because that's the way it's been spelled in our dictionaries since the first English dictionary was printed.
In fact, the first English dictionary was written here in the US, in Florida during the year 1604, to be precise.
In fact, the first English dictionary was written here in the US, in Florida during the year 1604, to be precise.
'In fact, the first English dictionary was written here in the US, in Florida during the year 1604, to be precise.'
That would be incorrect, see: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Table_Al… or www.library.utoronto.ca/utel/r…
Unless you were being sarcastic!
That would be incorrect, see: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Table_Al… or www.library.utoronto.ca/utel/r…
Unless you were being sarcastic!
Wasn't Florida founded in 1845?
Yep, you're right. I accidentally skipped a line while reading my source and thought it said that the same book had been published in Gainsville, Florida. My bad.
dictionary.reference.com/help/…
Also, I was mistaken about the reason. The actual reason that the US spells "artifact" with an i is because Latin roots with the "Arte-" prefix change the e to an i when said root is given a suffix (artificial, artifice). English is a jumbled mess as it is, so the logic is that this helps make things easier.
For the record, I prefer artefact, because I pronounce it "art-eh-fact" rather than "art-ih-fact" as the American spelling would imply.
dictionary.reference.com/help/…
Also, I was mistaken about the reason. The actual reason that the US spells "artifact" with an i is because Latin roots with the "Arte-" prefix change the e to an i when said root is given a suffix (artificial, artifice). English is a jumbled mess as it is, so the logic is that this helps make things easier.
For the record, I prefer artefact, because I pronounce it "art-eh-fact" rather than "art-ih-fact" as the American spelling would imply.