Normalcy? Is this really a word?

I don't like it, but it is the alternative form of normality.
This is from Grammarist on the web:
Normalcy was popularized in the early 20th century thanks to President Warren G. Harding’s “return to normalcy” campaign slogan (though the word did exist before then), and language authorities have been unable to stamp it out.

I thought it was an Americanism.

MiniMoon

I don't like it, but it is the alternative form of normality.
This is from Grammarist on the web:
Normalcy was popularized in the early 20th century thanks to President Warren G. Harding’s “return to normalcy” campaign slogan (though the word did exist before then), and language authorities have been unable to stamp it out.

who are these language authorities and who put them in charge?

Good question, greenlady102.

I looked at the Grammarist website and it doesn’t look particularly scholarly or authoritative. I imagine it’s American, from the spelling and example in MiniMoon’s extract.

‘Normalcy’ is an American usage, and if you use British English it should be ‘normality’.

Pittcity

I thought it was an Americanism.

It is and unwelcome

Yes, I hate 'normalcy', makes me cringe. Normality is the correct word.

How on earth can people be so touchy about a word? Language is an invention, anyway.

AmberSpyglass

How on earth can people be so touchy about a word? Language is an invention, anyway.

It has no prosody to it. It just sounds horrid.

I'd rather people invented new words than mangled perfectly adequate ones.

surely you've heard the word normalcy before now ?

I agree it sounds contrived and unnatural. As does "The new normal".

Thank you. I really dislike normalcy...sounds dreadful. I thought I was the only one who found it clunky.

I agree that it has American roots but does anyone else think they would use them slightly differently. To me "normality" is what happens naturally whereas "normalcy" doesn't feel so natural so I would probably only use it for a contrived normal (if ever).

It’s American, but I’m hearing/reading it more and more.
Sounds all wrong to me though.

I will continue to use 'normality'.

Apparently it has a use in mathematics, found via the internet so can't claim I knew this. However, surely language changes over time, I don't think anyone has ever stopped this even the Academie Francaise. If I don't like a word, I don't use it.

I think it’s up there with anaesthesiologist!

Never heard of prosody

Shouldn’t it be get back to normal?

Sadly, the word is becoming a normality in useage.