The Complexity of Compounds

The Complexity of Compounds The Complexity of Compounds The Complexity of Compounds By Mark Nichol A site visitor asked about the correct usage of a word used to describe meetings held in a face-to-face format rather than in a classroom-seating orientation. Is such a gathering a round table, or a roundtable? When describing a piece of furniture with a circular surface, we write â€Å"round table.† But as often occurs when a quotidian term develops a new sense, the treatment changes. Unfortunately, this development is haphazard and inconsistent, partly because we are within the transition zone for much of our vocabulary, and various dictionaries may diverge in their treatment of a specific term. However, the predominant form for the sense of â€Å"face-to-face group meeting† is now roundtable. (But maintain distinctions for various senses: â€Å"King Arthur’s Round Table was literally a round table as well as an assembly of his supporters, at which they not only feasted but also held roundtables.†) This type of evolution occurs often in commercial and organizational contexts. Other open compounds undergoing such a transformation include â€Å"life cycle† (to describe the cyclical nature of products and systems) and â€Å"road map† (in reference to the course an organization takes for itself or for a product or service). However, in the biological sense of â€Å"life cycle† and the literal cartographic sense of â€Å"road map,† these compounds remain open, though that status may change. (See this post, which describes the life cycle of compound words.) Why does this change occur? Humans have a natural tendency to simplify or consolidate things, including language. And in an open system such as language development, it is easy for nonstandard terminology (slang, jargon, and so on) and treatment (abbreviation, contraction, capitalization, spelling, and so on) to take hold and prevail. When writers make assumptions without verification about how compound words are styled- including such transitional forms as by-product and mind-set, styling them byproduct and mindset- those forms replicate virally as others see them in published materials and uncritically employ them. That is the process of evolution by which â€Å"round table† will almost inevitably become roundtable not just in organizational jargon but also in everyday use to describe household furniture, and by which lifecycle and roadmap are likely to someday apply in all connotations, and by which byproduct and mindset will become standard. But the tipping point for these forms has not yet arrived, so continue to refer to reputable sources and observe the â€Å"round table†/roundtable distinction as well as the others noted here. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Spelling category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:50 Rhetorical Devices for Rational WritingTen Yiddish Expressions You Should Know"To Tide You Over"

PREPARE AND WRITE A SUPERIOR UNIVERSITY ESSAY

PREPARE AND WRITE A SUPERIOR UNIVERSITY ESSAY PREPARE AND WRITE A SUPERIOR UNIVERSITY ESSAY Tackling a university- or college-level essay can be daunting. Its especially difficult for those who are new to this type of writing. Advanced education essays require a different style, compared to what you may do in high school classes. Certain specifics and technical approaches are beneficial. Here are five tips to improve your skills: Brainstorming for ideas is key. You cant always rely on your memory to save all your thoughts when brainstorming. Write it all down, later slashing and burning any unnecessary ideas. An integral part of this process involves excising any unfruitful thoughts. Dont be afraid to do this; keep only the good stuff. Your first draft is where the rough stuff gets done. Dont worry about being perfect,;the paper wont be on your first attempt. Just get your ideas down and let the thoughts flow. You can clean it up later. Your essay must have three distinct parts: introduction, body, and conclusion. This is where the technical applications come into play. You have to set up the flow in a coherent way. The body should have several parts. The introduction and conclusion often need only have one paragraph. Your paper must have a focused view. No matter what you write, your viewpoint should be substantiated in some way. Say you mention something about the American Civil War. If you have about an opinion about how the South approached the defense of their territories, these views need to be backed up by events that occurred. If the views are not supported by facts on the page, the paper will not work. It will solely be viewed as conjecture, or, at best, an opinion piece. Do your research. Be honest about what you are writing. Find a creative angle to draw the readers attention. Essays are complex this way. A strong essary has to be technical and creative enough to keep someones interest. Its a tall order, but not an impossible feat. is geared to help with your coursework and assignments. Looking to create university- and graduate-level papers? Let us help with technical and creative aspects in all your writing. Give us a