phrases, sayings, idioms and expressions at

-ise/-ize

Posted by Curly on June 03, 2003

Etymology can be interesting...
In words where the ending -ize actually means 'give the characteristic of', 'render', 'turn into' (e.g. harmonize = provide harmony; hospitalize= place someone in hospital), the ending is 'originally' Greek. -ize should be the only option. However, there is a 'purist' trend in the UK to consider the -ize an Americanism, and hence -ise is used, which is borrowed from ... the French.
Shakespeare used -ize, why not we?
Please note that this 'schism' can play tricks on meaning; just analyse "analize", as some will have it. Food for behavioural psychologists...

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