Asklemmy

Steve Mould obviously

I’ve always thought that mold is the fungus, and to mould is to shape.

I actually do this too. Not because I think it's correct as such, but because that way I am consistent and I know what I'm talking about when I read back previous text that I've written.

I remember it by Mold = simplified English = simple organism.

I use “mold” for both, and regard “mould” as the British spelling for both.

But the etymologies are interesting—the verb comes from French modle, while the fungus comes from late Middle English mould. So if anything, your assumed distinction is etymologically reversed.

Moulding is the trim around walls and whatnot. Molding is when something is in the process of having mold growing on it.

I use what you do

I say mould because I'm English and that's just how it's spelled here (we also pronounce it with a U, pronouncing it without the U as mold would be...strange).

Not an overly exciting response I know, but there you go :P

In Australia, I used to use them the opposite way as you: "mould" for the fungus, and "mold" to shape. These days I live in the USA and use "mold" for both.

I always thought mould was the fungus and to mold was to manipulate a material

American here, I’ve never used “mould” for any definition, personally- always “mold”

I thought the same for the longest time. I blame playing tons of runescape as a kid.

I am an American so mold spelling is definitely what I ran into when referring to the fungus. Runescape is British English, so you used moulds all the time in crafting.

I do the same as you. Although I usually default to the UK's use of u's. Just feels right.

"mould" should be pronounced the same as would or could

If you browse Canadian tool shops in Southern Ontario, Canada you will see thrm named Tool and Mold, or Tool and Mould. Nobody agrees Lol

I use mold for everything, but don't really bat an eye at using mould for the tool that is used to make parts which I see pretty often through my work.

As someone who regularly uses both British and American English both at work and in my personal life, I sometimes mix them unintentionally.

I almost always use the same spelling for either word and use context to make sure it is always clear which mold I am talking about.

I do think there is value in distinguishing the words with different spelling, but without getting everyone to agree on which spelling would mean what, I think this won't be very productive.

Which oune wold yo souggest?

On a related tangent, because I see that this is mostly discussed to death, I dont get why Americans decided to merge other unrelated words.

For example, being exhausted and the rubber circle that cars and bikes use to roll smoothly are the same word in American English whereas we (UK) use different spellings.

Tire - Being exhausted

Tyre - Round rubber wheel thing

You have my vote for your interpretation, that had always been my understanding too.

This one bugs me too. I want to differentiate!

This:

...is not this:

i see mold i use clorox

Mold because I'm American

I use "mold" for the fungus and the tool, "mould" for composted soil.

Dont both mean shape but only mold refers to the fungus?

I use both, they are two separate words, not one word with multiple spellings.

Not sure why people are changing it. Yes, language evolves, but maybe we could all focus on evolving it in areas that actually need evolution?

Fox mulder

I've been confused about it in the past, but I eventually settled on mould if it grows and mold if it's taking shape. I'm willing to let the rest of the internet be wrong about it, though.

ain't nobody got time for extra u's

There's a fair number of people who insist that "geek" and "nerd" mean two different, specific things. I think this is the same phenomenon, that people seek nuance where there isn't because it makes the language seem more interesting or something.