(This blog post refers only to "light" and "lite" when it comes to food and drinks. Obviously there are other definitions for both. The Online Etymology Dictionary helped me out with the specifics.)
Our new, awesome Mount Royal Light t-shirts sparked a question…
Q: Why are some foods and alcohols named “light” and others are “lite”?
The Online Etymology Dictionary listed light and lite as the following:
Light: not heavy; light in weight.
Lite: alternative spelling of light by 1962. Used from at least 1917 in product names, often as a variation of light.
I found several comments listing the meanings that the words light or lite on a package or in a brand name could mean from various websites.
- A third fewer calories, or no more than half the fat, of the original version of the product.
- No more than half the sodium compared to the original version of the product.
- A lighter color or texture — this does not affect the nutrition of the product.
In Mount Royal Light’s case, it’s a third fewer calories and a third less alcohol. My point is, there is not really a big difference between the two words when it comes to describing a brand. It has to do more with what the company prefers to call their product. Light has several other definitions and uses and in those cases, lite would not make sense to use.
The Grammarist blog says, “If you want to be safe, use it only in reference to low-calorie or low-fat versions of things.”
Mount Royal Light Blog 