`This is very tiresome, and a typical example of Wikipedia competitive uber-pedantry. There is only one spelling of ``strasse`` - s-t-r-a-s-s-e. This is not a matter of spelling, it is solely a question of how letters are written. The use of ``β`` for ``ss`` is a German orthographic convention, not a different spelling. It is not a convention used outside Germany and Austria, and is not recognised by the great majority of English-readers. They will read it as ``strabe.`` Using it is an insult to readers and is just a form of showing off by Wikipedia editors. Arguing for the use of ``β`` in the English Wikipedia on the grounds that ``they write it that way in Germany`` is the same as arguing that Beijing ought to be written ``北京`` because they write it that way in China. Or perhaps we ought to write all German placenames in Gothic script?  `