[minuscule:miniscule] Explanation of why it's spelled with a "u" instead of with an "i"

[Ken Blake]

When I wrote "miniscule", it was red squiggled, and when I looked it up, I
found out why. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/minuscule

Minuscule derives from the Latin adjective minusculus, which means "rather
small." The minuscule spelling is consistent with the word's etymology, but
since the 19th century, people have also been spelling it miniscule,
perhaps because they associate it with the combining form mini- and words
such as minimal and minimum. Usage commentators generally consider the
miniscule spelling an error, but it is widely used in reputable and
carefully edited publications and is accepted as a legitimate variant in
some dictionaries.

Interesting...

[Steve Hayes]

Post by Ken Blake
When I wrote "miniscule", it was red squiggled, and when I looked it up, I
found out why. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/minuscule
Minuscule derives from the Latin adjective minusculus, which means "rather
small." The minuscule spelling is consistent with the word's etymology, but
since the 19th century, people have also been spelling it miniscule,
perhaps because they associate it with the combining form mini- and words
such as minimal and minimum. Usage commentators generally consider the
miniscule spelling an error, but it is widely used in reputable and
carefully edited publications and is accepted as a legitimate variant in
some dictionaries.

Minuscule is the opposite of majuscule.

It was never majiscule.

[Ken Blake]

Post by Steve Hayes
Minuscule is the opposite of majuscule.
It was never majiscule.

Not only is that even more interesting, but it may be a way to remember the
most appropriate spelling (minus & majus, not minis & majis). Thanks.

Having never graduated from college, I didn't learn many of these words.
In fact, I didn't even know, until now, that "majuscule" was even a word!

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/majuscule
: a large letter (such as a capital)

Etymology
French, from Latin majusculus rather large, diminutive of major

Majuscule looks like the complement to minuscule, and the resemblance is no
coincidence. Minuscule appeared in the early 18th century as a word for a
lowercase letter, then later as the word for certain ancient and medieval
writing styles which had "small forms." Minuscule then acquired a more
general adjectival use for anything very small.

Majuscule is the counterpart to minuscule when it comes to letters, but it
never developed a broader sense (despite the fact that its Latin ancestor
majusculus has the broad meaning "rather large").

[Hibou]

Post by Ken Blake

Post by Steve Hayes
Minuscule is the opposite of majuscule.
It was never majiscule.

Not only is that even more interesting, but it may be a way to remember the
most appropriate spelling (minus & majus, not minis & majis). Thanks.
Having never graduated from college, I didn't learn many of these words.
In fact, I didn't even know, until now, that "majuscule" was even a word!
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/majuscule
: a large letter (such as a capital)
Etymology
French, from Latin majusculus rather large, diminutive of major [...]

Ben oui, on pourrait dire ça TOUT EN MAJUSCULES ou tout en minuscules.

Well yes, one could say that ALL IN UPPERCASE or all in lowercase.

[Adam Funk]

Post by Hibou

Post by Ken Blake

Post by Steve Hayes
Minuscule is the opposite of majuscule.
It was never majiscule.

Not only is that even more interesting, but it may be a way to remember the
most appropriate spelling (minus & majus, not minis & majis). Thanks.
Having never graduated from college, I didn't learn many of these words.
In fact, I didn't even know, until now, that "majuscule" was even a word!
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/majuscule
: a large letter (such as a capital)
Etymology
French, from Latin majusculus rather large, diminutive of major [...]

Ben oui, on pourrait dire ça TOUT EN MAJUSCULES ou tout en minuscules.
Well yes, one could say that ALL IN UPPERCASE or all in lowercase.

I remember "ECRIVEZ EN MAJUSCULES" on forms (to be filled in by hand).

[Bertel Lund Hansen]

Post by Ken Blake
Majuscule looks like the complement to minuscule, and the resemblance is no
coincidence. Minuscule appeared in the early 18th century as a word for a
lowercase letter, then later as the word for certain ancient and medieval
writing styles which had "small forms." Minuscule then acquired a more
general adjectival use for anything very small.

That has not happened in Danish where the two words are strictly
technical terms for letter styles. The Danish words are sustantives:
majuskler - minuskler

[Steve Hayes]

Post by Ken Blake

Post by Steve Hayes
Minuscule is the opposite of majuscule.
It was never majiscule.

Not only is that even more interesting, but it may be a way to remember the
most appropriate spelling (minus & majus, not minis & majis). Thanks.
Having never graduated from college, I didn't learn many of these words.
In fact, I didn't even know, until now, that "majuscule" was even a word!
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/majuscule
: a large letter (such as a capital)
Etymology
French, from Latin majusculus rather large, diminutive of major
Majuscule looks like the complement to minuscule, and the resemblance is no
coincidence. Minuscule appeared in the early 18th century as a word for a
lowercase letter, then later as the word for certain ancient and medieval
writing styles which had "small forms." Minuscule then acquired a more
general adjectival use for anything very small.
Majuscule is the counterpart to minuscule when it comes to letters, but it
never developed a broader sense (despite the fact that its Latin ancestor
majusculus has the broad meaning "rather large").

It was only when I went to work for a newspaper (the Windhoek
Advertiser) that I discovered that so many tecnical terms from hot
metal printing had passed into every-day use, and are still used in
these days of electronic typesetting.

cliche/stereotype
uppercase/lower case
minuscule
and several more.

etaoin shrdlu

[J. J. Lodder]

Post by Steve Hayes

Post by Ken Blake

Post by Steve Hayes
Minuscule is the opposite of majuscule.
It was never majiscule.

Not only is that even more interesting, but it may be a way to remember the
most appropriate spelling (minus & majus, not minis & majis). Thanks.
Having never graduated from college, I didn't learn many of these words.
In fact, I didn't even know, until now, that "majuscule" was even a word!
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/majuscule
: a large letter (such as a capital)
Etymology
French, from Latin majusculus rather large, diminutive of major
Majuscule looks like the complement to minuscule, and the resemblance is no
coincidence. Minuscule appeared in the early 18th century as a word for a
lowercase letter, then later as the word for certain ancient and medieval
writing styles which had "small forms." Minuscule then acquired a more
general adjectival use for anything very small.
Majuscule is the counterpart to minuscule when it comes to letters, but it
never developed a broader sense (despite the fact that its Latin ancestor
majusculus has the broad meaning "rather large").

It was only when I went to work for a newspaper (the Windhoek
Advertiser) that I discovered that so many tecnical terms from hot
metal printing had passed into every-day use, and are still used in
these days of electronic typesetting.
cliche/stereotype
uppercase/lower case
minuscule
and several more.

For your amusement: Dutch has; 'Liegen alsof het gedrukt staat'.
(lit. lying as if it stands printed)
from the days in which people felt that something having been printed
lent an air of truth to it.

Not in South African I guess. AFAIK printing in South Africa
didn't start until the British took over the country.

Jan

[Peter Moylan]

Post by J. J. Lodder
For your amusement: Dutch has; 'Liegen alsof het gedrukt staat'.
(lit. lying as if it stands printed) from the days in which people
felt that something having been printed lent an air of truth to it.

There are English sayings a bit like that, but I'm having a mental blank
and can't quote them. The only relevant phrase that comes to mind is
"set in stone".

[Bertel Lund Hansen]

Post by Peter Moylan
There are English sayings a bit like that, but I'm having a mental blank
and can't quote them. The only relevant phrase that comes to mind is
"set in stone".

I don't think that we have sayings with printing relation. About lying
we say: He lies faster than a horse can run.

If somebody is slow thinking one can ask:

Do you need it bent in neon lights?

or

Must it be cut in cardbord?

PS. I like the Spanish expression: He lies more than he talks.

[Bill Powell]

Post by Bertel Lund Hansen
I like the Spanish expression: He lies more than he talks.

I've often heard the expression "you lie like a rug" in my family.

[Steve Hayes]

Post by Bill Powell

Post by Bertel Lund Hansen
I like the Spanish expression: He lies more than he talks.

I've often heard the expression "you lie like a rug" in my family.

You lie like a cheap watch.

[Hibou]

Post by Peter Moylan

Post by J. J. Lodder
For your amusement: Dutch has; 'Liegen alsof het gedrukt staat'.
(lit. lying as if it stands printed) from the days in which people
felt that something having been printed lent an air of truth to it.

There are English sayings a bit like that, but I'm having a mental blank
and can't quote them. The only relevant phrase that comes to mind is
"set in stone".

'Gospel truth', 'truth is stranger than fiction', and 'it's written all
over your face' are the only ones I can find related to writing.

[J. J. Lodder]

Post by Hibou

Post by Peter Moylan

Post by J. J. Lodder
For your amusement: Dutch has; 'Liegen alsof het gedrukt staat'.
(lit. lying as if it stands printed) from the days in which people
felt that something having been printed lent an air of truth to it.

There are English sayings a bit like that, but I'm having a mental blank
and can't quote them. The only relevant phrase that comes to mind is
"set in stone".

'Gospel truth', 'truth is stranger than fiction', and 'it's written all
over your face' are the only ones I can find related to writing.

There is a strange paradox here:
1) Google gives "Lying like it's written" as the (only) translation.
2) Google doesn't find a single instance of the literal phrase.

Conclusion: Google doesn't check its own translations,

Jan

[Peter Moylan]

Post by Steve Hayes
Minuscule is the opposite of majuscule.
It was never majiscule.

Maybe this won't work for everyone, but I have always told myself that
minuscule is the opposite of pluscule.

[Sam Plusnet]

Post by Peter Moylan

Post by Steve Hayes
Minuscule is the opposite of majuscule.
It was never majiscule.

Maybe this won't work for everyone, but I have always told myself that
minuscule is the opposite of pluscule.

But journalists go to j-school.

(These are complex matters.)

[J. J. Lodder]

Post by Peter Moylan

Post by Steve Hayes
Minuscule is the opposite of majuscule.
It was never majiscule.

Maybe this won't work for everyone, but I have always told myself that
minuscule is the opposite of pluscule.

Ca, c'est plus que enculant!

Jan

[Ken Blake]

Post by Peter Moylan

Post by Steve Hayes
Minuscule is the opposite of majuscule.
It was never majiscule.

Maybe this won't work for everyone, but I have always told myself that
minuscule is the opposite of pluscule.

Even most of those who write it "minuscule" probably pronounce it
MIN-is-kyool. Not me. Afaic, it's min-US-kyool.

[Rich Ulrich]

On Sat, 07 Sep 2024 06:58:44 +0200, Steve Hayes

Post by Steve Hayes

Post by Ken Blake
When I wrote "miniscule", it was red squiggled, and when I looked it up, I
found out why. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/minuscule
Minuscule derives from the Latin adjective minusculus, which means "rather
small." The minuscule spelling is consistent with the word's etymology, but
since the 19th century, people have also been spelling it miniscule,
perhaps because they associate it with the combining form mini- and words
such as minimal and minimum. Usage commentators generally consider the
miniscule spelling an error, but it is widely used in reputable and
carefully edited publications and is accepted as a legitimate variant in
some dictionaries.

Minuscule is the opposite of majuscule.
It was never majiscule.

I just remember, NOT "mini" and remember it's from Latin.


Do you have a rule for compliment and complement? I see
errors in both directions, maybe as often as I see miniscule
(though the thread tells me, I might be out of date, there).

Today, the sports page told me of a running game that
complimented the passing game. (American football.)

[Snidely]

Post by Rich Ulrich
On Sat, 07 Sep 2024 06:58:44 +0200, Steve Hayes

Post by Steve Hayes

Post by Ken Blake
When I wrote "miniscule", it was red squiggled, and when I looked it up, I
found out why. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/minuscule
Minuscule derives from the Latin adjective minusculus, which means "rather
small." The minuscule spelling is consistent with the word's etymology, but
since the 19th century, people have also been spelling it miniscule,
perhaps because they associate it with the combining form mini- and words
such as minimal and minimum. Usage commentators generally consider the
miniscule spelling an error, but it is widely used in reputable and
carefully edited publications and is accepted as a legitimate variant in
some dictionaries.

Minuscule is the opposite of majuscule.
It was never majiscule.

I just remember, NOT "mini" and remember it's from Latin.
Do you have a rule for compliment and complement? I see
errors in both directions, maybe as often as I see miniscule
(though the thread tells me, I might be out of date, there).
Today, the sports page told me of a running game that
complimented the passing game. (American football.)

"Hey, nice footwork there!"

-d

[Steve Hayes]

On Sun, 08 Sep 2024 19:40:17 -0400, Rich Ulrich

Post by Rich Ulrich
On Sat, 07 Sep 2024 06:58:44 +0200, Steve Hayes

Post by Steve Hayes

Post by Ken Blake
When I wrote "miniscule", it was red squiggled, and when I looked it up, I
found out why. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/minuscule
Minuscule derives from the Latin adjective minusculus, which means "rather
small." The minuscule spelling is consistent with the word's etymology, but
since the 19th century, people have also been spelling it miniscule,
perhaps because they associate it with the combining form mini- and words
such as minimal and minimum. Usage commentators generally consider the
miniscule spelling an error, but it is widely used in reputable and
carefully edited publications and is accepted as a legitimate variant in
some dictionaries.

Minuscule is the opposite of majuscule.
It was never majiscule.

I just remember, NOT "mini" and remember it's from Latin.
Do you have a rule for compliment and complement? I see
errors in both directions, maybe as often as I see miniscule
(though the thread tells me, I might be out of date, there).

The complement completes it.

You can't complite anything.

[Rich Ulrich]

On Mon, 09 Sep 2024 17:02:25 +0200, Steve Hayes

Post by Steve Hayes
On Sun, 08 Sep 2024 19:40:17 -0400, Rich Ulrich

Post by Rich Ulrich
On Sat, 07 Sep 2024 06:58:44 +0200, Steve Hayes

Post by Steve Hayes

Post by Ken Blake
When I wrote "miniscule", it was red squiggled, and when I looked it up, I
found out why. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/minuscule
Minuscule derives from the Latin adjective minusculus, which means "rather
small." The minuscule spelling is consistent with the word's etymology, but
since the 19th century, people have also been spelling it miniscule,
perhaps because they associate it with the combining form mini- and words
such as minimal and minimum. Usage commentators generally consider the
miniscule spelling an error, but it is widely used in reputable and
carefully edited publications and is accepted as a legitimate variant in
some dictionaries.

Minuscule is the opposite of majuscule.
It was never majiscule.

I just remember, NOT "mini" and remember it's from Latin.
Do you have a rule for compliment and complement? I see
errors in both directions, maybe as often as I see miniscule
(though the thread tells me, I might be out of date, there).

The complement completes it.
You can't complite anything.

Thanks! I think I can remember that.

BTW, I looked at ngrams on miniscule and there is an unusual
pattern, stronger for US than GB. It grows in the 20th C.. faster
than the growth of minuscule -- In the 1970s, the 'is' version
takes the lead. But the growth of 'us' continues while 'is' falls
back by 2000 to 20% of 'us'. From there, 'us' is fairly level
while 'is' grows againn to about half of 'us'.

Here's a chart for anyone who wants to explore variations -
https://books.google.com/ngrams/graph?content=miniscule%2Cminuscule&year_start=1800&year_end=2019&corpus=en-2019&smoothing=3

[Adam Funk]

Post by Rich Ulrich
On Sat, 07 Sep 2024 06:58:44 +0200, Steve Hayes

Post by Steve Hayes

Post by Ken Blake
When I wrote "miniscule", it was red squiggled, and when I looked it up, I
found out why. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/minuscule
Minuscule derives from the Latin adjective minusculus, which means "rather
small." The minuscule spelling is consistent with the word's etymology, but
since the 19th century, people have also been spelling it miniscule,
perhaps because they associate it with the combining form mini- and words
such as minimal and minimum. Usage commentators generally consider the
miniscule spelling an error, but it is widely used in reputable and
carefully edited publications and is accepted as a legitimate variant in
some dictionaries.

Minuscule is the opposite of majuscule.
It was never majiscule.

I just remember, NOT "mini" and remember it's from Latin.
Do you have a rule for compliment and complement? I see
errors in both directions, maybe as often as I see miniscule
(though the thread tells me, I might be out of date, there).

I think it's been fixed in my head since complementary and
supplementary angles in high school geometry. However, I still tend to
type "discrete" (when I mean "discreet") & have to stop & think about
it.

[Adam Funk]

Post by Ken Blake
When I wrote "miniscule", it was red squiggled, and when I looked it up, I
found out why. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/minuscule
Minuscule derives from the Latin adjective minusculus, which means "rather
small." The minuscule spelling is consistent with the word's etymology, but
since the 19th century, people have also been spelling it miniscule,
perhaps because they associate it with the combining form mini- and words
such as minimal and minimum.

and "miniature", I'd think.

Post by Ken Blake
Usage commentators generally consider the
miniscule spelling an error, but it is widely used in reputable and
carefully edited publications and is accepted as a legitimate variant in
some dictionaries.
Interesting...

[jerryfriedman]

Post by Adam Funk

Post by Ken Blake
When I wrote "miniscule", it was red squiggled, and when I looked it up, I
found out why. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/minuscule
Minuscule derives from the Latin adjective minusculus, which means "rather
small." The minuscule spelling is consistent with the word's etymology, but
since the 19th century, people have also been spelling it miniscule,
perhaps because they associate it with the combining form mini- and words
such as minimal and minimum.

and "miniature", I'd think.

..

ObSupererogatory: I'd think so too, though as you know,
"miniature" isn't related to "minimal" and "minimum".

[Bertel Lund Hansen]

ObSupererogatory: I'd think so too, though as you know, "miniature"
isn't related to "minimal" and "minimum".

A weak joke is known as a mini-haha.

When I was a child we said that such jokes were watered - I don't know
why. After some time we just said "Dryp, dryp" (Danish) when we heard
one.

[Adam Funk]

Post by jerryfriedman

Post by Adam Funk

Post by Ken Blake
When I wrote "miniscule", it was red squiggled, and when I looked it up, I
found out why. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/minuscule
Minuscule derives from the Latin adjective minusculus, which means "rather
small." The minuscule spelling is consistent with the word's etymology, but
since the 19th century, people have also been spelling it miniscule,
perhaps because they associate it with the combining form mini- and words
such as minimal and minimum.

and "miniature", I'd think.

..
ObSupererogatory: I'd think so too, though as you know,
"miniature" isn't related to "minimal" and "minimum".

True, although the oldest usages in English in the OED all have to do
with small versions of things, so you can't blame people for assuming
it's related.

[Snidely]

Post by jerryfriedman

Post by Adam Funk

Post by Ken Blake
When I wrote "miniscule", it was red squiggled, and when I looked it up, I
found out why. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/minuscule
Minuscule derives from the Latin adjective minusculus, which means "rather
small." The minuscule spelling is consistent with the word's etymology, but
since the 19th century, people have also been spelling it miniscule,
perhaps because they associate it with the combining form mini- and words
such as minimal and minimum.

and "miniature", I'd think.

..
ObSupererogatory: I'd think so too, though as you know,
"miniature" isn't related to "minimal" and "minimum".

Spires, shurly.

-d

[Peter Moylan]

Post by Adam Funk

Post by Ken Blake
Minuscule derives from the Latin adjective minusculus, which
means "rather small." The minuscule spelling is consistent with
the word's etymology, but since the 19th century, people have
also been spelling it miniscule, perhaps because they associate
it with the combining form mini- and words such as minimal and
minimum.

and "miniature", I'd think.

..
ObSupererogatory: I'd think so too, though as you know, "miniature"
isn't related to "minimal" and "minimum".

A weak joke is known as a mini-haha.