Hi,
I'm not too familiar with the differences between Canadian English spelling/grammar and British English spelling/grammar. I was wondering:
1. Rationalise or rationalize?
2. "I left", he said. or "I left," he said.

Any outline of rules would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

Canadian spelling takes rules from both American and British spelling.
1. US = rationalize. British = rationalise. In this case of -ize/-ise, the Canadian spelling is -ize.
2. "I left," he said. Always inside the quotations when followed by "__ said."

As for outlines of rules...there are wayyy too many. If you're in a program with essays, you're best off having someone look at a piece of your writing and explaining mistakes to you.

If you really want outlines, Google them. Plenty on the Internet.

Rationalize.

Comma after quotation..? Unless the thought continues? I don't really know the rules behind any of thise, it just comes automatically, or I don't have the vocabulary to describe the grammar rules.. :/

The comma is always inside quotations, pretty sure that's an international standard.

Originally Posted by Faer

The comma is always inside quotations, pretty sure that's an international standard.

It probably is, I just refuse care because english is ridiculous and a lot of its rules are uselessly rigid.

I'll have to agree with that. xD I prefer the descriptive approach to grammar anyhow.

I never got why the comma goes inside, it's not like the comma is part of what the person said.

Edit: this reminded me that I wanted to add a quotation to my signature.

"Yes," he declared. "You use a comma before and also capitalize afterwards."

Originally Posted by Freija

"Yes," he declared. "You use a comma before and also capitalize afterwards."

See, there it makes sense a little, because the sentence continues after you specifiy how the thing is said, its like a continuation of thought.

Originally Posted by RyanC

See, there it makes sense a little, because the sentence continues after you specifiy how the thing is said, its like a continuation of thought.

I always found it confusing too. I flipped to a random page in a book nearby and it follows this format.
Any English majors care to chime in?

Actually, if it's the continuation of a thought, it would be something like (stealing yours, Freija, and tweaking a bit.)

"Yes." he declared. "You use a comma before and also capitalize afterwards - but only if it's two seperate sentences."

"If it's not, though," she interrupted, "you don't capitalize the second time and use commas on both sides."

It's something I learnt a couple years ago, it surprised me. I could still be wrong, though.

On the rationalize/rationalise thing most prof's won't care as long as you're consistent. I use British spelling for everything like that and don't have a problem. I'm pretty sure both ways are acceptable in Canada.

...couldn't this all be solved by switching Word's dictionary to Canadian English? You can tell it to check grammar too.

Originally Posted by britb

...couldn't this all be solved by switching Word's dictionary to Canadian English? You can tell it to check grammar too.

Sometimes the grammar check on Word is absolutely atrocious.

Originally Posted by J. Dorey

Sometimes the grammar check on Word is absolutely atrocious.

True, but it does at least mark funny sentences. And at least its better than the equation generator. Now THAT is atrocious.

Though it is a pain when writing labs. Yes, I know its passive voice, its supposed to be like that, no this is not a fragment its data, etc etc.