01 Apr You Say Resume, I Say Résumé

resume \’rĭ-zōōm’\ v. tr. 1 : To begin or take up again after interruption: resumed our dinner. 2 : To assume, take, or occupy again: The dog resumed its post by the door. 3 : To take on or take back again: resumed my original name.

résumé \’rĕ-zōō-mā’\ n. 1 : A brief account of one’s professional or work experience and qualifications, often submitted with an employment application. 2 : A summary: a résumé of the facts of the case.

There aren’t too many things that drive me up a wall. Yes, there is the occasional fingernail on the blackboard or the exporting of Democracy to various and sundry countries in the Middle East. Uncomfortable? Yes. Divine retribution for leading a pure life? Perhaps.

But these pale by comparison to seeing the word RÉSUMÉ (notice the accents over the e’s) spelled RESUME on Web sites and blogs.

Each time I see this typographic transgression –each time I see a fellow blogger title his or her job history as such I feel a pressure on my chest and a compulsion to right and rewrite this wrong. I can’t get over it and I can’t help myself.

I don’t know where this holier-than-thou attitude comes from. Luckily, I have a modicum of self-control. I have only contacted a handful of my fellow webbies to offer my expertise (you know who you are). I have thankfully left the rest of you alone.

But the strain of holding back is getting to me. I want to shout from the top of the Empire State Building: “DON’T FORGET THE ACCENTS!” –both of them and both facing the correct direction. Accent aigu for you Francophiles.

In html the word is coded “r-&-e-a-c-u-t-e-;-s-u-m-&-e-a-c-u-t-e-;” and in Photoshop the accented é is created by using cmd-e option-e, e (Mac) or alt-0233 (PC).

To make it easier, as a service to my field, and as personal therapy I am offering an html version of résumé along with a Photoshop version in a handy dandy zip file. Download and use liberally throughout the Web.

I can’t single-handedly stop our way of life from oozing uncontrollably from our shores. But I can do my part to end this bit of spelling debauchery.

Don’t thank me profusely. It’s a selfish act.

• [ Résumé, HTML, Typography ]