Definitions

[MrGongGong]

Well there's always one.
And what terrible spelling on the cover.

He is American hence the spelling ! (though it could be ? another case of an "Americanism" that is really the remnant of how it used to be spelt in England ?)
he is a very interesting Sound Artist

the "classic" DG style cover had to be withdrawn due to DG objecting

[John Skelton]

There's a useful Wikipedia entry on English spelling reform http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English...pelling_reform

As you say, favorite is the correct spelling for a North American English language writer. Favourite is the correct spelling for a British English language writer. Neither is anything other than conventionally correct: there is no such thing as correct spelling outside convention / usage.

[Pabmusic]

He is American hence the spelling ! (though it could be ? another case of an "Americanism" that is really the remnant of how it used to be spelt in England ?)

This could have been made for the Semantics thread!

Spelling didn't really settle down on either side of the Atlantic until the 19th century, with the abundance of books and newspapers, as well as Webster’s and the OED. In the US, Webster's Dictionary had an impact that's hard for us British to imagine: it influenced all spelling and grammar books ever since used in American schools. Noah Webster was really trying hard to create a type of English unconnected with Britain and his writings are full of this. His dictionary was clearly proscriptive, and gave '-or' as the only option for Latin-derived words that end with that sound; hence 'favor' and 'favorite'. In British English we had generally Frenchified such words (most of them came to us from French anyway) - hence 'favour' and 'favourite' - though both spellings were known.

But here's the thing. The Declaration of Independence contains 'neighbouring', 'endeavoured' and 'Honor' - two spelt one way, one the other. This sort of thing was common on both sides of the Atlantic at the time. It just shows how attitudes to language change.

[amateur51]

there is no such thing as correct spelling outside convention / usage.

I'll remember that when I'm doing my UK Citizenship Test, John

[MrGongGong]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/blog/quiz/2011/oct/11/uk-citizenship-test-quiz

give it a go