Tip & Quote of the Week: "Defence & Defense"

"The history of man is the history of crimes, and history can repeat. 

So information is a defense. Through this we can build, 

we must build, a defense against repetition."

- Simon Wiesenthal

Here we have two words that sound very similar and have only one letter of difference between them. But like 'realise', 'defence' is only okay to use if you don't live in North America.

defense (Brit. 'defence')

noun

1 - the action of defending from or resisting attack: 

they relied on missiles for the country's defense | 

she came to the defense of the eccentric professor.

• attempted justification or vindication of something: 

he spoke in defense of a disciplined approach.

• an instance of defending a title or seat in a contest or election: 

his first title defense against Jones.

• military measures or resources for protecting a country: 

the minister of defense | [as adj. ] defense policy.

• a means of protecting something from attack: 

education is the best defense against tyranny.

• (defenses) fortifications or barriers against attack: 

coastal defenses.

• (in sports) the action or role of defending one's goal against the opposition: 

we played solid defense.

• (the defense) the players in a team who perform this role.

2 - the case presented by or on behalf of the party being accused or sued in a lawsuit.

3 - one or more defendants in a trial.

• (usu. the defense) [treated as sing. or pl.] the counsel for 

the defendant in a lawsuit: 

the defense requested more time to prepare their case.

"Foremost, it is important to know that there are two major notations of spellings that are widely accepted today worldwide. These are the British and the English spellings. Back in the 18th century, the English spellings were not standardized which led to much confusion after several British-spelled words surfaced and were made public. To the common knowledge of most people, Webster has been the major proponent of the English system. In this regard, “defense” is the American spelling whereas “defence” is the British counterpart pertaining to the same term. Australian, Canadian, and U.K. language users prefer the British notation whereas the American system is mainly used in North and South America and in some parts of Asia." (Source #1)

"Though defense is now the American spelling, it is not American in origin. The OED and Google Books reveal examples of the spelling from as long ago as the 1300s, many centuries before the United States existed. That spelling continued to appear a fraction of the time through the 19th century, when it was taken up by American writers. Today, to the chagrin of those who dislike American English, the spelling is gaining ground throughout the English-speaking world." (Source #2)

This ngram, which graphs the use of defence and defense in American English through the 20th century, shows that defense became the prevalent spelling around 1910:

And the next ngram graphs the occurrence of the words in British English during the same period.

It shows defense gaining ground:

"In sports, the words “defense” or “defence” can also mean the way a team or player defends or protects his area of responsibility from the offending attacks of the other opposing team. In many sports, such as ice hockey, water polo, basketball, and volleyball, among others, this term is frequently being used by the coaches, fans, and the players themselves.

"In terms of the military scene, the words can pertain to the act of protecting oneself either through the use of protective devices, weaponry, the terrain advantage, and one’s body parts in the act of defense or defence. More so, this word can imply the overall tactics that a unit or units employ to fend off an attack." (Source #1)

Picture found here.

Sources:
- #1 - http://www.differencebetween.net/language/difference-between-defence-and-defense/
- #2 - http://grammarist.com/spelling/defence-defense/
- quote from http://www.brainyquote.com/words/de/defence152008.html