(no subject)

[arethinn]

Kenneth G. Wilson (1923–). The Columbia Guide to Standard American English. 1993.

publicly, publically (advs.)

Publicly is the usual spelling; publically does occur, but rarely in Edited English.

o.o

No wonder Word was persisting in underlining it with a red squiggle.

American English, why are you so dumb sometimes? "Publically" makes more sense because it parallels other similar adverbs. Stupidly, softly, numbly, and variously; but musically, mystically, historically, and tyrannically. No, there isn't a word "publical" that I'm aware of (because what that is is L-doubling), but it has the same form. Aesthetically (*koff*) it should be spelled "publically".

Comments

[bluegodjanus.livejournal.com]

I just set my Word to British English. Solves all my problems.

[starlightforest.livejournal.com]

I don't want to spell everything that way though.

[bluegodjanus.livejournal.com]

Oh. That would complicate things, then.

[billfl.livejournal.com]

It's exactly because of the way you describe above. Adverbs such as "polically" and "musically" are forms of their adjective roots ("Political", "Musical"). I can't think of any instance where "Publically" would look correct, despire Mr. Wilson's claims.