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Fall or autumn: the Canadian dilemma

Canada's Francophones have no problem naming the season between summer and winter. For them, it's called l'automne. But English-speaking Canadians switch between fall and autumn. Why do we have two words for this season, and how do we choose between them?

Why two words?

The word autumn came into general use around the 16th century, replacing the name harvest for the whole season. Autumn is derived from the French, which came from the Latin autumnus, the Roman name for this season.

Fall is a Germanic word that also came into use around the 16th century. It is thought to refer to the season's falling leaves and fruit, and to nature's decline as winter approaches.

Beginning in the 17th century, English-speaking emigrants took both words with them to the New World. In North America, fall became the more common word, while autumn gained the upper hand in Britain, as well as in Australia and New Zealand. In general, then, Americans usually say fall, while the British say autumn—and Canadians say both.

What's the difference?

How do we choose which word to use? Here are some guidelines. For most Canadians, fall is the informal, everyday choice. Use fall when speaking—autumn seems overly formal and a bit pretentious in most everyday contexts.

In writing, both autumn and fall are correct. But when we need a more formal word (or one with two syllables), we speak and write about autumn.

We look on autumn as more scientific (autumnal equinox), more literary—and certainly more poetic. It lends an added grace, for example, to these stirring lines from A Vagabond Song (1896) by Bliss Carman, one of Canada's Confederation poets:

There is something in the autumn that is native to my blood—
Touch of manner, hint of mood;
And my heart is like a rhyme,
With the yellow and the purple and the crimson keeping time.

The scarlet of the maples can shake me like a cry
Of bugles going by.
And my lonely spirit thrills
To see the frosty asters like a smoke upon the hills.

There is something in October sets the gypsy blood astir;
We must rise and follow her,
When from every hill of flame
She calls and calls each vagabond by name.

Date Modified: 2012-03-29

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