Dragon Ball or Dragonball?

[Weejus]

This is something that has got on my nerves for quite some time. Is there a definitive spelling of the term? Even some products create discrepancies (the original tankōbon spell it 'Dragon Ball' but the kanzenban spell it 'Dragonball'). I like to think it's 'Dragon Ball' because 'Dragon' and 'Ball' are words but 'Dragonball' is not a real word, but I'm just unsure.

Apologies in advance if this question sounds stupid.

[dbboxkaifan]

It's just two spellings both of which are official but Dragon Ball seems the one to be most commonly used. I never liked "Dragonball" it makes it look odd and I grew up with the other spelling.

There was a one time (iirc UK DB forum, or something) in a forum I read "Dragon Ball makes it sound like two series" but then wouldn't this mean Dragon Ball Z would be three? Hm.

[Gyt Kaliba]

Pretty sure they're both 'official' or have been used in that capacity, yeah. I tend to stick to 'Dragon Ball' myself, and I used to be able to say that's because of the initials - 'DB' makes it seem like they'd both have to be their own words to me - but nowadays I think it's just because that's what I'm used to. Despite the two-words/initial thing, I tend to write 'Fullmetal Alchemist' instead of 'Full Metal Alchemist' because I got used to the first one prior.

[Sin]

Funnily enough I use Dragon Ball for the franchise overall and the first series, but also use Dragonball Z and Dragonball GT.

[Storm]

Yeah, I used to use Dragonball Z/GT/Kai, although most of the time I would shorten it to just DBZ/GT/K/ai.

I think though that the use of Dragon Ball outweighs the use of Dragonball in official material (as well as considering iffy romanizations from Japanese speakers).

[Zestanor]

Dragonball looks like a sport. I've always liked Dragon Ball

[DynasticHunter]

I've never seen it written as "Dragonball" on any official merchandise, so I just type it as Dragon Ball.

[Avenged]

Always saw it as "Dragon Ball" for the series and "Dragonball" for the actual object, the Dragonballs.

[TheDevilsCorpse]

I've never seen it written as "Dragonball" on any official merchandise, so I just type it as Dragon Ball.

I prefer Dragon Ball, but it's written as Dragonball on a decent chunk of material, including the Kanzenban.

[dbboxkaifan]

That cover sure looks nice and they could have had the Dragon Ball spelling instead if only they made the letter size a bit smaller.

Can't wait for the Full Colour mangas to get to the Cell arc.

[Valerius Dover]

Dragonball looks like a sport. I've always liked Dragon Ball

Now that'd be an interesting one to play.

But anyway, I prefer the Dragon Ball spacing. That's what it says when the series title is shown in all the intros.

[RocktheDragon]

Always used "Dragon Ball" though I understand that it has been used both ways in merchandise.

In terms of which I prefer I'd have to side with "Dragon Ball" because the space just feels oh so natural at this point. When I was younger though I did spell it as one word. I wonder when I changed that practice.

[SaiyaJedi]

The mathematician's answer? "Yes."

[90sDBZ]

I've mostly stuck with Dragonball. That's how it was always listed on the Sky Programme Guide for all 3 series when they aired in the UK. But then Kix went and ruined the tradition by listing Kai as Dragon Ball Z Kai. I've also noticed that the sides of game boxes are inconsistent with it.

[linkdude20002001]

Where is "Dragonball" used besides the Kanzenban?

[helsinkirocks]

I take the "middle road" and (rather frequently) use DragonBall

[dbboxkaifan]

Where is "Dragonball" used besides the Kanzenban?

The UK PS2 spine of Budokai 2 says "Dragonball Z Budokai 2" but then the front cover's "DRAGON BALL Z BUDOKAI 2"



For now I just remember this being the only PAL game that uses the improper spelling because the others are all "Dragon Ball".

Whoever did this cover should have looked up the traditional spelling that's used not this, it broke consistency between the other games.

[omegalucas]

The UK PS2 spine of Budokai 2 says "Dragonball Z Budokai 2" but then the front cover's "DRAGON BALL Z BUDOKAI 2"

That logo looks more like "Dragonball Z" than "Dragon Ball Z" to me

[Marco Polo]

Just like the characters' names, there probably isn't a definitive spelling.

[SaiyamanMS]

Where is "Dragonball" used besides the Kanzenban?

"Dragonball Evolution"? But yeah, I've seen both "Dragon Ball" and "Dragonball" used in an official capacity, but "Dragon Ball" is the more common form it seems.

Despite the two-words/initial thing, I tend to write 'Fullmetal Alchemist' instead of 'Full Metal Alchemist' because I got used to the first one prior.

Slightly off topic, but was "Full Metal Alchemist" ever used in an official capacity? I'm pretty sure I've only ever seen "Fullmetal" as one word with FMA... (And of course, the Japanese title "Hagane no Renkinjutsushi" literally translates to "Steel Alchemist" or "Alchemist of Steel".)