Jelling or gelling? AU students wonder

Ed Williams and his journalism students at Auburn University were wondering which verb to use — gel or jell — when the sense is "taking form" or "getting along well together." Ed cast his vote for "jell."

"The Oxford English dictionary says 'jell,' too, and the OED is the bible of the English language," said Cliff McCollum, opinions editor of the Auburn Plainsman, the student newspaper.

"I studied the dictionary, and I'm not sure," said Madelyn Dinnerstein, an editor with the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

Bubba's opinion: Either word is correct.

"Gel" stems from a Latin root meaning "to freeze." "Jell" is a back formation from "jelly," which stems from the same root.

"To gel" or " to jell" means literally to change from a liquid to a colloidal form, such as Jell-O gelatin desserts. Figuratively, either can mean "to take form," as in "The corporate acquisition plan jelled (or gelled) after the takeover target published its quarterly report."

In an informal sense, either can mean "to get along well," as in "the new student quickly gelled (or jelled) with her classmates."

Bubba sus pects that "jell" is the more popular word because it's the more familiar. Everybody in Western society has eaten jelly toast or peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwiches. But "gel" may have gained recently as a result of the television commercials for Dr. Scholl's massaging gel pads. The commercials ask: "Are you gellin'?"

"Has your kudzu jelly jelled yet?" asked Uncle Hadacol.

"Yep," said Miss Hattie June Harkabus, "and my plan for selling it at the Swampscum Farmer's Market has just about gelled, too."

(Readers may address questions or comments to Bubba through Gene Owens at 315 Lakeforest Circle, Anderson SC 29625, or through e-mail at BubbasEnglish@aol.com)