In my junior year of high school, I wrote an essay about Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter that would eventually become a substantial portion of our final grade. While handing out the assignment, my teacher, who I must admit was quite competent, announced that she would be taking one point off our final score for every misspelled word, incorrect punctuation mark, improper grammar usage, and so on.

This did not worry me at all, as I am generally a proofreading Nazi and incredibly neurotic, even obsessive-compulsive, about such things. I spent several hours on this essay and turned it in a week later, expecting to solidify my ‘A’ grade for the class.

Two days later it was returned with red marks all over and a big C+. The note at the beginning said, “Excellent analysis, very well-written, a marvelous paper as a whole … but THE MISSPELLINGS!”

I was aghast! What in the world was she talking about?

Given the subject of the book, I had used the word “judgment” quite frequently. Only I had used “judgement,” with the ‘e’ in it. Every single “judgement” had been crossed in red ink, and my beautiful paper had been reduced to a C+.

This would not do. After class, I went to talk to her about it.

“Since it’s all the same word, can’t this just be ONE point off?” I pleaded.
“That doesn’t make the others correct though, does it?” she said.

I pulled out the Merriam-Webster I often had with me.
“Look, judgement with the ‘e’ is acceptable,” I said, pointing to the page.
“Yes, but it’s secondary to the preferred no-’e’ form,” she said, raising an eyebrow. “In my class we use the preferred forms.”

I was lost. Judgment-without-an-’e’ just looked wrong! All naked. The word needed the ‘e’ to look complete and whole.

“But… but,” I stammered, unsure of how to explain myself.
Finally, I practically announced, “But I prefer it with an E!”
“Oh you prefer it, do you?” she said, thoroughly amused. “Too bad Mr. Webster and most of America don’t agree with you.”

I caved. There was nothing left to say. I accepted my C+ with defeat.

This tortured memory haunted me for years, and I regularly fought my natural, yet inappropriate, tendency to spell judgment with the ‘e’ in its proper place.

Until now.

Today I stumbled across this marvelous entry at Judgment Call and rejoiced that I was not alone.

Welcome back, ‘e’…