I've always been a good speller. After all, I had great teachers at School #7.

They taught us to spell "theater" and "center" with an "-er" at the end.

I really don't want to go against what I learned in second grade, but I'm in a bit of a quandary.

First, there's the Rochester Broadway Theatre League. It's been in the news a lot.

Second, there's Medley Centre. (My friend, Susan, likes to call it "Sahn-tray.")

Third, Medley Centre apparently has a new name, one that keeps the "-re." It's now called LakeRidge Centre. (I suppose putting the "Lake" and Ridge" together without a space poses a different English problem.)

Is it acceptable to switch the "r" and the "e?" I turned to the Web for answers.

Some guides say to use "theater," except when "theatre" is in a proper name. Others say "theater" refers to a bricks and mortar building and "theatre" refers to the dramatic arts. There doesn't seem to be any agreement. I've decided that if it's not in your group's proper name, I'm not using "theatre."

For example:

The Rochester Broadway Theatre League wants to build a new theater.

"Centre" is a lot easier.

We just don't spell it that way. The British do. More and more shopping centers, however, are turning to the British spelling. So if LakeRidge Centre wants to spell its name weird, I feel obligated to spell it the same way.

Let's just hope the city doesn't rename the Port of Rochester something like "Charlotte Harbour." Second-graders would not approve.