Pronunciation is a moveable feast, spelling is less so. This month's issue of Nature Genetics is the first to subscribe to American English, rather than British English. Whereas Nature Genetics is an offshoot of the British journal Nature, with which it maintains close ties, it has been based in the United States since its launch in 1992. Nearly nine years on, and with six (soon to be seven) members of staff who are either North American or au fait with the spelling, the decision to adhere to American English is one that is based on practicality. There are three other new features in this issue. The Brief Communication now features a terse abstract so as to increase the odds that it will be picked up by electronic searches. In recognition of the fact that it is a report of primary research, dates of receipt and acceptance are now provided. And Acknowledgments of all research papers will include, should the authors so desire, a specification of who did what—so as to more clearly indicate the nature of their respective contributions.