~ Kommentary by Kritter ~

Creme if it is face creme, and cream if it is whipped cream.

Usually grey if it is talking about a grey area, (uncertainty), and gray when talking about the color.

Theater when going to the movies, and theatre when going to see a play.

I never use on accident, it is always by accident. (I think that on accident is a mid-west thing, I had never heard it until I moved out here)

I don't know if these are the proper usages, but this is how I use them!

My mother has always cringed when either of her children said "on accident." In fact she still does :) Interestingly she's a native St. Louisan.

I maintain that there's nothing wrong with "on accident." When it is intentional we don't say "by purpose."

I agree with all of Jaime's usages and reasons. Christy brings up a valid point with "On Accident", but I never use that...

"on accident"? that's weird. I've never heard that.

PS -- I'm such a nerd. Just tried to look up "on accident/by accident" in Working With Words. no go.

Brian Brooks, you've failed us again. (author or Working with Words)

To answer your question:
Cream, grey, theater, and by accident.

cream, grey, theater, on accident (yeah, I think I do say it.)

Grey is the only British spelling I think I use. e.g., I never add a (u) to color, honor, or valor. And I certainly never say "maths" instead of mathematics.

But ever since visiting London at age 14, I "mind my step" as opposed to "watch" it. It just makes more sense.

cream, gray, theater and on accident.

Cream. I don't ever think/talk/write about face creme - it is always lotion - but from now on if I ever do it will be face creme

Gray when thinking/talking/writing about the color. Grey areas of uncertainty

Theater for movies. Theatre for plays.

On accident always.

"cream", unless it's creme de la creme.

"grey", because it just LOOKS greyer than "gray" does.

"theatre", because "theater" looks like a heater with a lisp.

"by accident", because "on accident" is stupid and doesn't make any sense. however, i prefer "i did it accidentally" or "i accidentally did it" or "it was an accident" over either of the prepositional phrases.

"an accident" was not a choice -- or I would have choosen that one.

Ooo C I totally agree about grey. It IS more grey.
I think I generally go back and forth on that one. Cream. Theatre. I have to concentrate to type theater, but I guess that could be more correct for the movie theater. Still, theatre is just so much cooler looking. And since I think theatre is cool...
And the on accident/by accident thing is a long argument in my immediate family. Somehow along the way, we kids started saying on accident. My parents argue the other one. And truly they are right. I don't really say it anymore anyway- it's just one of those things we still like to argue and chuckle over. Again, C, I think you are right in saying "I didn't accidentally" or Jenny saying "It was an accident." That's most common.

cream unless it's those little Life Save Creme Savers... drool.

Theater unless I'm feeling pretentious.

Grey. Always. That is how I was taught to spell it and I will never convert.

Never heard the term on accident before. Can't help you there.

The one that bugs me all the time is people who say "same difference". WTF does that mean??? I grew up around people saying "same thing" and that makes sense. I want some opinions on that.

Ah see- I DIDN'T actually see this before last night. So are you calling me pretentious??? ;-)