Theater or Theatre?

[cardaway]

I've seen the actual places use both. Spell checkers consider both valid words. So which is it? Which spelling do you use?

 

[apirateslifeforme]

I've always spelled it "theatre." But I'm a pretentious snob, according to my coworkers (just one step away from pompous a$$! )

 

[VioltePrincess]

movie theater, Broadway theatre

 

[ChrizJen]

I think that in some instances, "theatre" is used for live stage performances, and "theater" is used for movies.

But technically, I think that "theatre" is the more European way to spell it. Kind of like "favorite and favourite" and "color and colour".

Just a different way of spelling.

 

[monarchsfan16]

I always spell it theater

 

[DznyFan]

movie theater, or home theater. In the case of live performance, the art of theatre, musical theatre, or going to the theatre.
Both spellings are correct. confused yet?

 

[Melisa1]

I have always spelled it "theater"

 

[Karnak]

You say tomato and I say tamato. LOL

 

[amy4bruce]

I believe that when Noah Webster simplified British spelling for his dictionary, he changed all "re"s to "er"s. (Not only theatre to theater, but centre to center, and others.)

This being said, my Introduction to Theatre 250 course used The Theatre by Oscar G. Brockett as its text, which spelled it theatre. After this (and really before) I've always used re.

 

[JR6ooo4]

As long as you do not spell tire (as in a car tire) TYRE!


heheheee

Mikeeee

 

[cardaway]

I was thinking theater was for movies but then I saw this a few weeks ago.

http://galaxytheatres.com/

 

[TurboKitty]

As long as you do not spell tire (as in a car tire) TYRE!


heheheee

Mikeeee

Would you mind if I collect my paper from the kerb in my pyjamas?

 

[Aidensmom]

movie theater, Broadway theatre

That's how I use it too.

 

[disneymama73]

movie theater, or home theater. In the case of live performance, the art of theatre, musical theatre, or going to the theatre.

I agree.

 

[amy4bruce]

As long as you do not spell tire (as in a car tire) TYRE!


heheheee

Mikeeee

Read books by an author named James Hadley Chase. He's (or was) a Brit, who wrote hard-boiled mysteries about the United States. Unfortunately, he could never get his spelling or slang Americanized. One of his characters, for example, got the spare tyre from the car's boot in Florida.

 

[pogo791]

While it's true that Webster, Random House and all the other (American) authorities give both spellings, I have always thought that "theater" is the preferred American spelling, and "theatre" is the British spelling (note to ChrizJen - British, not European!)

I'd go further and say that using "theatre" in the U.S. is a tad pretentious. But then I googled "Broadway theater" and "Broadway theatre", only to find that it is this latter spelling that is somewhat more common. Well, live and learn ...

 

[sweetspicy]

The Associated Press Stylebook for newspaper style says it's "theater" for all uses, unless it's part of a theater's proper name, like those Galaxy Theatres posted earlier.

(It's part of my job to know this geeky stuff like AP style. )

 

[CT_Dad]

I work in it. On Broadway and in other live theaters, some use -re and some use -er. I agree that -er is the American version and use that unless the proper name of a theater is spelled -re. I think that -re probably stuck with some people and places even before spelling became Americanized and some probably kept it out of habit or just to try to be high brow.

 

[Pam]

movie theater, Broadway theatre

What she said.