I prefer to use "programme" for computer software as well. While "program" is more common in American English and in technical contexts, "programme" aligns with my personal preference and the British English conventions I follow. Just one of those things.

@djh I’ve had a marathon gardening day today, and I’m knackered, so the software wins in the quote attributions. 😀

@editor Turing was there first and I suspect he used programme (as I do too!). Toodles.

Posted by: @toodles

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@editor Turing was there first and I suspect he used programme (as I do too!). Toodles.

He, he.
If we're being absolutely strict about it, Turing was still only following on from Ada Lovelace and Charles Babbage. Not sure either of them thought of it as "programming" so the spelling would no doubt remain a moot point but they were both nonetheless British and therefore eminently likely to have used the British version of the word if they had ever written it down.
 

@majordennisbloodnok Quite so Bloodnock!

Posted by: @majordennisbloodnok

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If we're being absolutely strict about it, Turing was still only following on from Ada Lovelace and Charles Babbage. Not sure either of them thought of it as "programming" so the spelling would no doubt remain a moot point but they were both nonetheless British and therefore eminently likely to have used the British version of the word if they had ever written it down.

Off topic alert  More pedantically, Augusta King and her Note G while called an algorithm sought to performs actions more diverse than Babbage's earlier work...but she never called it a program.programme and as the Greek πρόγραμμα (prógramma) uses a double m, so shall I.

Quite right, @abernyte. Augusta Ada King, Countess of Lovelace. Arguably the world's first computer programmer and a historical giant.

It turned out to be quite an interesting question. Two aspects.

First the English spelling was program from its Latin and Greek roots until Victorian times when it became influenced by the French spelling programme.

Secondly as to the usage in computing. This appears to originate from a specific date in March 1953. There was a conference at the NPL from 25-28 of that month and Prof Hartree ended the opening address by saying:

'Lastly, may I press for the use of the spelling "program" without the superfluous terminal "-me". We do not write the French forms "telegramme", "diagramme"; why use the French form "programme"?  there has been objection to "program" on the ground that it Is an Americanism and, for this reason (so It is Implied) reprehensible. But It is not an Americanism; reference to the O.E.D. and Fowler's "Modern English Usage" will show that It is a well-established English word, of respectable age, derived from the Greek, through Latin, and that "programme" Is a reintroductlon through the French.  When we have a perfectly good English word, why should we prefer a Gallicism?  And why, anyway, should a Gallicism be acceptable and an Americanism - even if It were one - unacceptable?'

I can't see any record of the conclusion to that question but in the preface of a book I have 'Automatic Digital Calculators' by Booth & Booth it says that a decision in favour of program was reached:

At the meeting, in addition to Prof Hartree and Andrew Booth there was Alan Turing and many other luminaries (including Christopher Strachey who taught me). So the spelling is not an accident, nor an Americanism, but a deliberate choice by the people who were there. I for one respect their choice. You are free to do as you wish of course, but I feel the force of history is with me.

You're quite right, @djh; the path the spelling has taken is indeed very interesting and in some senses unexpected. Thanks for the information - I've learned something.

That said, the quote you've given had Professor Hartree "pressing for" a standardisation in the spelling, meaning it was not a standard at that point. Nor, as you point out, was there any decision so far as we can see. However, whilst you do mention other eminent names were present there is also no mention of whether or not they agreed with Professor Hartree so I think it might be pushing things a little to turn the request into a fait accompli "deliberate choice by the people who were there".

I certainly stand corrected on my assertion that "program" is specifically an American spelling and I also agree that there is no reason a French influence should be any more nor less acceptable than an American one. However, I would still maintain that being fundamentally a language question any use of the word program(me) should accept that there is no formal standard of spelling making one form wrong and one right; there is currently only "common" and "rare".

Posted by: @majordennisbloodnok

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I think it might be pushing things a little to turn the request into a fait accompli "deliberate choice by the people who were there".

Maybe I wasn't clear, but the decision of the meeting was reported in the preface of the book which I quoted as an image. FWIW, both the Cambridge dictionary and Fowler appear to agree with me (the Oxford dictionary now seems to be behind a paywall or registration or something that I won't investigate).

There's one correct way of spelling computer program, and another way that is only used by idiosyncratic Englishmen who choose to single themselves out for faint ridicule by their choice. JMHO 😆 

Posted by: @djh

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There's one correct way of spelling computer program, and another way that is only used by idiosyncratic Englishmen who choose to single themselves out for faint ridicule by their choice. JMHO  

According to several online sources, "only" includes not only the British (not just men and not just English), but also Canadians (understandably, given their Gallic influence) and New Zealanders. As you say, it's just your opinion, humble or otherwise, and demonstrably wrong; there are sufficient references to the "idiosyncratic" alternative still being valid and in use that one cannot accurately assert there is only one "correct" spelling.

 

@djh

I do find it rather concerning that forum members are spending time and effort discussing how to describe computer software.

Seems very much like Nero fiddling while Rome was burning.