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Adviser or advisor

Adviser or advisor, 8/10/2001, 11:39:48 PM

Sorry this may be an idiot question but what exactly is the correct term/spelling for the title:

Adviser or Advisor?

Responses

Marc R Wood, 8/11/2001, 9:57:32 AM
The dictionary will tell you either way is correct, but according to the AP Stylebook, which is the only opinion that matters if you're a journalist, the correct spelling is "adviser." It seems to be the agreed-upon spelling among the student press associations as well (NSPA, JEA, CSPA, CMA, etc.). - Marc Wood, NSPA

Harvey Cromwell, 8/13/2001, 12:08:59 AM
Amen! Thank you so much, Marc! I see "advisor" too often--even in yearbooks and newspapers.
To the poster: Get an AP stylebook AND a CSPA stylebook. They're both invaluable tools.

Justin Thaime, 8/16/2001, 1:18:17 PM
I did read somewhere, that "advisor" has a much more professional spelling to it... kind of like "professOR" or "doctOR" or "couneslOR at law... interesting concept

Michael Angelo, 8/16/2001, 11:10:42 PM
I always thought it was advisor. Who would have known?

Steve, 10/16/2001, 3:53:49 PM
An "adviser" is someone defined by what they are doing. Defined by a verb, one who is advising or dispensing advice.

An "advisor" is someone defined by what they are. I.e. defined by what they continually do. They are in the position of providing advise.

An alternative for teachers in this position would be to call yourself the "sponsor" for the paper and avoid the notion that you should have all the answers.

=)

J. Spenalzo, 10/19/2001, 11:24:37 PM
Or how about "sponser?!"

Sandy Chieques, 10/22/2001, 11:30:24 PM
Oh dear. This is getting out of hand. Sure, both are correct. But we're all journalists, and as Marc said, it has to be "adviser." I never would have thought that so many people would be misinformed. The spring 2003 JEA/NSPA convention is in Oregon. Maybe the theme should be "-or or -er in OR."

Sara, editor-in-chief, 12/5/2001, 8:02:38 PM
Please read what Marc (first response) has to say. Seriously.

AP Man, 12/6/2001, 1:22:17 PM
AP says that of there are two spellings of a word (as in the example of adviser), the spelling that comes first in the dictionary, the first in alpha order, is to be used. That's why theater is spelled with an 'er', keep an eye out for things like that, you'll notice it a lot.