Assume v. Presume

[HugeMaximum]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spelling_of_disc
Compact disc is spelled with a "c" because Philips and Sony officially trademarked the format with that spelling in 1979. Other optical discs also then got that spelling.
Any other computer disk should be spelled with 'k'.

 

[gomezz]

Similar confusion over program / programme. For me, the former is a computer program and the latter is a TV programme and also a programme of events for a concert or fete etc.

 

[prpr]

I never know which it is - disk or disc. With me it can vary from day to day.

It is correct as I stated. More of a problem is hard (or solid state) disk/drive.

they were also known as a diskette

Only to IBM. Everyone just called them "floppy/floppies" anyway.

 

[prpr]

the former is a computer program and the latter is a TV programme and also a programme of events

Correct. AFAIA, the only correct use of "program" is computer related. Everything else ends in ...mme.

 

[HugeMaximum]

Correct. AFAIA, the only correct use of "program" is computer related. Everything else ends in ...mme.

... in proper (British) English. Or is that English English?

 

[prpr]

I have no idea what you mean. English is just English, AFAIK. You don't need to qualify it unless it's some foreign thing, like American English etc.

 

[HugeMaximum]

Was agreeing that ...mme is proper English, unlike Amercian English - so, thereby needing to say 'British English'. Then 'English English' is a take on the fact that 'members' of Britain no doubt don't like being bundled into 'British English'... even parts of England don't like being bundled into being 'English' nor speaking it.

 

[Black Hole]

Floppy disk - because they were also known as a diskette, maybe.

Yes. Then, by extension, disk became the accepted spelling for 'hard disk'. But we've been this way before – from the Glossary:

In case any "traditional spellers" quibble at 'disk':- like 'program', 'disk' is an accepted spelling in computer terminology and has its roots in the abbreviation for 'diskette'. In normal English 'disc' remains correct for describing a flat circular object, and 'programme' is a planned series of events.

 

[EEPhil]

" 'programme' is a planned series of events."
That would include a computer program

 

[HugeMaximum]

" 'programme' is a planned series of events."
That would include a computer program

...except if it's "a set of instructions in code that control the operations or functions of a computer" - then it's a "program".
https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/program_1

 

[EEPhil]

I don't doubt the difference. Indeed, I have used the spelling "program" to refer to a list of computer instructions for the past 50 years. My minor, joking, gripe was with " 'programme' is a planned series of events.". A computer program is a planned series of events (on a good day). The "planned series of events" isn't a unique definition of programme as it also applies to program.