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The Different Spellings of "Crown Molding"

It is said that during the Boston Tea Party of 1773, bundles of British tea were dumped overboard to protest unfair taxation.

It is said that during the Boston Tea Party of 1773, bundles of British tea were dumped overboard to protest unfair taxation. As it turns out, not everything British was abandoned that evening. The same early Americans might have written that “ . . . after finding something in the galley that appeared to be moulding; we journeyed below to find some decorative crown moldings, which we made use of forthwith”. Good thing too. If these architectural details where made of polyurethane, they would still be floating around the Atlantic to this day. When referring to Crown Mouldings, or Cornices as they would, the British and their many have always used the “ou” in the spelling while the “Correct” American spelling remains without the “u” Having said this, American companies seem divided on this point. Many American corporations that manufacture or sell mouldings have kept the “Old Word” spelling in their company name and branding, perhaps out of conscience for the historical significance of these decorative building material products. You may have noticed that many web sites use both spellings throughout their various pages. This is done because different versions are often used when customers are searching for products to buy online. If you were to analyze search engine results, you would find the traditionally southern states search more under “Molding” while others are apt to use “Moulding”, the spelling of which would also be used to describe the blue stuff at the back of the fridge, refrigerator, or icebox if you prefer. Whatever your spelling preference, you are bound to end up with a large selection of companies and products to choose from. This way, it matters not, the way that you spell the word, just as long as you keep in mind, that it is better to hang it on the wall than to find it at the back of your fridge. . . . . . After all, you never know when someone might be dropping by for tea. About the author: Rick Hemsworth is the owner of Profile Mouldings; a manufacturing plant with offices in British Columbia and Washington State. For more information on crown moldings, visit us at: http://www.crown-molding.com