Most of the OED's early (C17) examples for program/me use the -am ending. It
looks more like a case of programme having acquired the extra -me rather
than diagram having lost it (which also may help explain the US spelling of
program).
Peter
----- Original Message -----
From: "GATLEY David A" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Friday, April 23, 2004 2:03 PM
Subject: Re: Spelling
> Most interesting.
>
> I was wondering if both the -mme ending was used originally for both
> programme and diagram but because diagram (until the advent of radio)
> was used far more than programme, the 'me' had been dropped in a period
> before spelling had been standardised.
>
> Personally I think the Americans have the right idea in spelling it thus
> 'program'. I try now to avoid the work unless I'm writing about a
> computer program.
>
> David
>
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