Re: Disk vs. disc

[Robert Bononno <bononno -at- ACF2 -dot- NYU -dot- EDU>]

Fowler? You looked in Fowler for post WWI terminology? I'd never thought
of that. You're right, I should have known better. So according to the
sacred book, we went through disk ==> disc ==> disk ==> disc (CDROM &
MO). Yes, I know, Fowler didn't know about the latter uses.

By the way, I was very upset when I realized I had to use disc for
certain applications. I had hoped to get away with only a single variant.
I wonder if the CDROM/MO people did it on purpose simply to separate
themselves from the herd?


     Robert Bononno /// Techline
     bononno -at- acf2 -dot- nyu -dot- edu
     CIS 73670,1570


On Tue, 26 Apr 1994, Jack Shaw wrote:

> Because you asked and should have known better...

> Following the hallowed rule of consistency, I've used
> "disk" all over the place ("disk space", "disk drive",
> and so on). Now, if you look at Fowler's English Usage,
> it claims "disc" is the more modern usage, replacing
> "disk". But Fowler has been doing this so long that
> I'd bet he's remembering something like "slipped disc"
> or the like. And since I don't have Fowler's American
> (sniff) Usage (it and "Mein Kampf" are banned here...),
> I can't cite colonial sources.

> But it's just so neat to makle the phonetically pleasing
> transition from "disk" to the lower life form, "diskette"
> instead of rationalizing "disc" to "disckette" or "disquette"
> or some such. Besides, one of these days someone will
> want to open a chain of stores where you can rent CDs
> for non-copying purposes, and they might want to call
> them "Disc-o-Take" and so should remain separate and
> distinct from our exalted contexts...

> But be exaltingly consistent, whatever you do, OK?

> Now, more importantly, why is there a magic marker in
> my half-filled coffee cup...I've always used a spoon
> in the past...?

> JSH bids ado (about nothing, as usual...)