Date: Fri, 24 May 2002 01:32:32 +0100 From: Tony Finch <dot@dotat.at> To: Brad Knowles <brad.knowles@skynet.be> Cc: Tony Finch <dot@dotat.at>, chat@FreeBSD.org Subject: Re: email vs. e-mail, was Re: cvs commit: src/sys/alpha/alpha clock.c Message-ID: <20020524013232.C13780@chiark.greenend.org.uk> In-Reply-To: <p05111706b90fe527be6d@[10.0.1.4]>; from brad.knowles@skynet.be on Tue, May 21, 2002 at 01:54:30PM %2B0200 References: <200205162121.g4GLLGQ43405@freefall.freebsd.org> <20020516220511.A9DBE380A@overcee.wemm.org> <20020517114010.A57127@regency.nsu.ru> <20020519100324.GK44562@daemon.ninth-circle.org> <20020519134348.I67779@blossom.cjclark.org> <p05111722b90de01cc974@[10.9.8.215]> <20020520195703.A79046@dragon.nuxi.com> <p05111701b90fb2744154@[10.9.8.215]> <20020521122955.A31528@chiark.greenend.org.uk> <p05111706b90fe527be6d@[10.0.1.4]>
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On Tue, May 21, 2002 at 01:54:30PM +0200, Brad Knowles wrote: > > Tell ya what. I'll consider switching usage when I can find a > freakin' copy of the goddam thing that is being sold fourth or > fifth-hand, and at a price I can bloody afford. Oh, and it has to > demonstrate this usage as being primary, too. Given that I have free (albeit inconvenient [1]) access to the OED I couldn't let this pass. It turns out to be amusingly inconclusive :-) The 1989 second edition lists email as the primary spelling (with e-mail secondary), but only as a noun. The third volume of the additions series (published in 1997) adds the verb form, but this time with e-mail as the primary spelling and E-mail and email as secondary. The current on-line edition's entries aren't different from the dead-tree versions. (email as in electronic mail is the second entry for the word; the first is to do with enamel, but I'm afraid I didn't get a copy of the entry.) email 2. Computing. Also e-mail. Colloq. shortening of electronic mail s.v. ELECTRONIC a. 3. 1982 Computerworld 5 July 68 ADR/Email is reportedly easy to use and features simple, English verbs and prompt screens. 1983 Infosystems Sept. 113/2 Email promotes movement of information through space. 1984 Listener 28 June 38/1 E-mail achieves the same as a telex, or teleprinter, but at much lower cost. 1986 Times 14 Jan. 27/5 Electronic mailnow known universally as e-mail. The partnership of word processor and e-mail almost eliminate [sic] the need for paper. 1986 Sunday Times 25 May 69/6 Simple enough for `email', as it is sometimes called, to be one of the fastest-growing businesses in the world. In Britain, Telecom Gold is doubling its email customer base every year. e-mail, v. Computing. Also E-mail, email. [f. EMAIL n.2] trans. To send by electronic mail; to communicate with (a person) by electronic mail. Also intr., to establish contact by electronic mail. 1987 Whole Earth Rev. Spring 124/1 Articles..become files, which are then transferred..to my Ohio office via electronic mail on the GEnie computer network (this article, however, was e-mailed through The WELL). 1990 Pract. Computing Sept. 35 (caption) Written or typed comments can be added, and the document then processed via Freestyle's icon-based desktop..and emailed to other network users. 1993 Unix Rev. Mar. 28/3 (Advt.), Call, fax or email for a free demo. 1994 Loaded Sept. 111/1 For Sonic Youth we would first e-mail them at SERV@CORNELL.EDU. 1995 T. CLANCY Op-Center xx. 93 The ex-FBI agent went to the computer on the other side of the room and began E-mailing his sources in Asia and Europe. [1] my local library at which I have borrowing privileges has seven million volumes and is a national copyright repository :-) Tony. -- f.a.n.finch <dot@dotat.at> http://dotat.at/ CROMARTY FORTH TYNE DOGGER FISHER: SOUTHEAST 4 OR 5 VEERING SOUTH 5 OR 6, OCCASIONALLY 7 LATER IN TYNE AND DOGGER. RAIN LATER. MAINLY GOOD. To Unsubscribe: send mail to majordomo@FreeBSD.org with "unsubscribe freebsd-chat" in the body of the message
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