resumé / resume

[xela]

I think there is no English word in common use that annoys me more, as regards its written form, than resumé. I try to be consistent about writing it with the accent in my own use, but I'm not happy about it. It's pedantic and it looks weird on the page in any context other than a book. But i've reluctantly decided that is less bad than using resume, which I as a reader (even of my own writing) always trip over, hearing it in my head as the verb pertaining to continuation. It's a no-win situation.

A question for my British readers: I get the sense that in your division of our common language, the brief written summary of your employment history that you submit with your application for a job is more commonly referred to as your vitae. Am I correct in that? It would certainly solve my problem. (In American usage, curriculum vitae or cv is a longer and more complete summary, and for the most part only university professors have one.)

Comments

[ckd]

Isn't it actually résumé (two accents)? (Twice as weird-looking?)

[yakshaver.livejournal.com]

Either is correct (as is resume), according to both my Mac's Dictionary.app and m-w.com. The single accent on the final e is sufficient to alert an American reader of how to pronounce the word, even in isolation.