Comments on: Go Global With Microsoft http://www.globalbydesign.com/blog/2005/04/01/go-global-with-microsoft/ Adventures in web and mobile globalization Tue, 07 Feb 2012 18:38:36 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Joshhttp://www.globalbydesign.com/blog/2005/04/01/go-global-with-microsoft/comment-page-1/#comment-22 Josh Sat, 09 Apr 2005 09:22:44 +0000 http://globalbydesign.com/2005/04/01/go-global-with-microsoft/#comment-22 If Microsoft is so adept at globalisation - why do they not localise the spelling in their English language software? I'm sure you're aware that the English-speaking world does not share the same idioms or even terms of reference. Why, for example, does Microsft only offer a version of Windows (and Office) to the UK that contains US spellings in the interface? Would US users be happy using an operating system containing UK spellings such as colour, favourites, network neighbourhood, centre, dialling etc.? (Or even help descriptions like "tick the checkbox labelled..."?) Somehow, I doubt it. If Microsoft is so adept at globalisation – why do they not localise the spelling in their English language software? I’m sure you’re aware that the English-speaking world does not share the same idioms or even terms of reference.

Why, for example, does Microsft only offer a version of Windows (and Office) to the UK that contains US spellings in the interface? Would US users be happy using an operating system containing UK spellings such as colour, favourites, network neighbourhood, centre, dialling etc.? (Or even help descriptions like “tick the checkbox labelled…”?) Somehow, I doubt it.

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