This email is sent on behalf of Jackie Solano.

Today I’ll share some of the food-related terms recently added to Merriam-Webster.

arancini: rounded balls of cooked rice with savory fillings (such as mozzarella cheese) that are coated with bread crumbs and deep-fried

EVOO (abbreviation): extra-virgin olive oil

macaron: a light, often bright colored sandwich cookie consisting of two rounded disks made from a batter of egg whites, sugar, and almond flour surrounding a sweet filling (as of ganache, buttercream, or jam)

santoku: a medium-sized, multipurpose kitchen knife of Japanese origin that has a lightweight blade with a straight or slightly curved cutting edge and a spine that curves downward to the tip

chef’s knife: a large, general-purpose kitchen knife usually 8 to 10 inches long that has a blade curving upward along its length and ending in a narrow point

elderflower: the flower of an elderberry (such as Sambucus nigra) used especially in making wines, liqueurs, and teas

The words artisanal and ginger now include these definitions:

artisanal: creating a product in limited quantities by traditional methods

· an artisanal winery

· an artisanal cheese maker

ginger: a person with red hair (chiefly British)

Jackie Solano | Technical Editor | Symitar®

8985 Balboa Ave. | San Diego, CA 92123 | Ph. 619.542.6711 | Extension: 766711

Symitar Documentation Services

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The other night, my husband Ray and I were playing Pokémon and we were talking about a character named Ditto. The next thing I knew, Ray was doing his version of talking to Siri and asked, “Okay, Kara. Where does the word ditto come from?”

I didn’t know the answer, so sue me! I had to look it up, but boy did I find some fun information, and I took a walk down memory lane.

First, the definition from Dictionary.com:

· ditto [dit-oh] /ˈdɪt oʊ/

noun

1. the aforesaid; the above; the same (used in accounts, lists, etc., to avoid repetition). Symbol: ″.

Abbreviation: do.

2. another of the same.

3. Informal. a duplicate; copy.

adverb

4. as already stated; likewise.

verb (used with object), dittoed, dittoing.

5. to make a copy of, using a Ditto machine.

6. to duplicate or repeat the action or statement of (another person).

· ditto marks (noun)

1. Often, ditto marks. two small marks (″) indicating the repetition of something, usually placed beneath the thing repeated.

Second, the etymology from the Online Etymology Dictionary:

1620s, Tuscan dialectal ditto "(in) the said (month or year)," literary Italian detto, past participle of dire "to say," from Latin dicere (see diction). Originally used in Italian to avoid repetition of month names in a series of dates; generalized meaning of "same as above" first recorded in English 1670s.

And lastly, for some of us non-Millennials, the Ditto machine, also known as the spirit duplicator, from Wikipedia:

A spirit duplicator (also referred to as a Ditto machine in North America, Banda machine in the UK or Roneo in France and Australia) was a printing method invented in 1923 by Wilhelm Ritzerfeld and commonly used for much of the rest of the 20th century. The term "spirit duplicator" refers to the alcohols which were a major component of the solvents used as "inks" in these machines. The device coexisted alongside the mimeograph.

Spirit duplicators were used mainly by schools, churches, clubs, and other small organizations, such as in the production of fanzines, because of the limited number of copies one could make from an original, along with the low cost and correspondingly low quality of copying.

Here are a couple of photos of the machines and the dittos made from them. Remember the purple color and the smell of freshly dittoed papers?

Kara Church

Technical Editor, Advisory

Symitar Documentation Services

I remember six years ago, maybe more, Frank W. asked me about starting a sentence with the word however versus connecting two independent clauses with however and a semicolon. For example, is one of these items below incorrect?

· Janine wore a bikini top today. However, the news said it was going to be fifty degrees out.

· Janine wore a bikini top today; however, the news said it was going to be fifty degrees out.

Well, Frank’s retiring soon, and I always try to get back to people with an answer—sometimes it just takes a few years. And who better to give a good, thoughtful explanation than Grammar Girl? Frank, this one’s for you!

Can You Start a Sentence with the Word "However"?

The question I get asked most frequently about however is whether it is OK to use however at the beginning of a sentence, and the answer is yes: it is fine to start a sentence with however. You just need to know when to use a comma and when to use a semicolon.

"However" Without a Comma: Modifier

The comma is important because however is a conjunctive adverb that can be used in two different ways: it can join main clauses and it can modify a clause.

If you use however at the beginning of a sentence and don’t insert a comma, however means “in whatever manner,” “to whatever extent,” or “no matter how.”

For instance, Winston Churchill said, “However beautiful the strategy, you should occasionally look at the results,” and for those of you who like more modern examples, on the TV show House, Dr. Foreman said, “However bad you think you’re going to be in that room, not being there is worse.”

In both those cases, however isn’t playing a role as a conjunction. It’s not joining anything to anything else. It means “no matter how.” “However bad you think you’re going to be” and “No matter how bad you think you’re going to be” mean the same thing. I don’t think anyone has ever disputed starting a sentence with however when it is used that way.

"However" with a Comma: Connector

On the other hand, Strunk and White did say in their book, The Elements of Style, that you shouldn’t start a sentence with however when you mean “nevertheless” or “but.”

They’re referring to sentences such as this one from Charles Dickens’ Nicholas Nickleby, “It is a great deal easier to go down hill than up. However, they kept on, with unabated perseverance,” and this more modern example from the 2009 “Star Trek” movie in which Spock says, “I intend to assist in the effort to reestablish communication with Starfleet. However, if crew morale is better served by my roaming the halls weeping, I will gladly defer to your medical expertise.”

In these examples, however is acting as a connector. It’s providing a transition from the previous sentence to the next sentence.

I know many of you revere Strunk and White, but this is one instance in which nearly all modern style guides have decided that the classic advice is unreasonable. The modern style guides don’t call starting a sentence with however an error. [KC: Emphasis mine.]

Here’s why: when you put a comma after however at the beginning of a sentence, everyone knows it means “nevertheless.” There’s no reason to outlaw a perfectly reasonable use of the word when you can solve the problem with a comma. Some writers have even gone so far as to say it is preferable to start sentences with however instead of burying the word in the middle of a sentence, because putting it at the beginning makes the connection between sentences more clear and therefore makes the text easier to scan.

For even more information on this issue, see Grammar Girl.

Kara Church

Technical Editor, Advisory

619-542-6773 | Ext: 766773

Symitar Documentation Services

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As a couple of you have already noticed, I accidentally left out a rule. See the red font below.

Thanks to all you eagle eyed readers!

Donna Bradley Burcher | Senior Technical Editor | Symitar®

8985 Balboa Ave. | San Diego, CA 92123 | Ph. 619.278.0432 | Extension: 765432

Symitar Technical Publications Writing and Editing Requests

From: Donna Bradley Burcher
Sent: Monday, March 13, 2017 6:45 AM
To: Donna Bradley Burcher <DBurcher@jackhenry.com>
Subject: Editor’s Corner: Writing about Numbers

Good morning. Today I want to go over JHA and Symitar’s guidelines about how to write about numbers. I know we’ve covered this topic in the past, but it is one that we are asked about often. It is also high on the list of mistakes we see in submitted writing.

I’m going to toss a few rules at you, but hopefully, much of this will be review, so it won’t be overwhelming. This information comes directly from the JHA Style Guide (JHA employees can use the link to view the guide).

Rule 1:

Spell out zero through nine. Use numerals for 10 and greater. Use a numeral with the word percent, even if it is less than 10.

Examples:

· Symitar signed eight clients to its Cruise core processing platform during the past 60 days.

· Respond to the query within 10 business days.

· A 5 percent discount is available.

Rule 2:

Use a numeral if the number identifies a specific item, unit, or value you must enter, even if it is less than 10.

Examples:

· The institution establishes transaction codes 1–99.

· Type 5 and click OK.

Rule 3:

Use a numeral for numbers that are part of a series, if at least one of the numbers is 10 or above.

Examples:

· The children are ages 2, 5, and 12.

· Codes 5–15 are available.

Rule 4:

Use a numeral before a unit of measurement, even if it is nine or below.

Units of measurement include:

· distance

· temperature

· volume

· size

· weight

· points or picas

· bits or bytes

Note: Hours, days, weeks, or any other units of time are not considered units of measurement for this guideline.

Examples:

· I read five pages in the book. (Because the number is nine or below, it is spelled out.)

· I ran 5 miles this week. (Because the number precedes a unit of measurement, it uses a numeral, even though it is nine or below. It is an exception to the rule illustrated by the previous example.)

Have a lovely day today.

Donna Bradley Burcher | Senior Technical Editor | Symitar®

8985 Balboa Ave. | San Diego, CA 92123 | Ph. 619.278.0432 | Extension: 765432

Symitar Technical Publications Writing and Editing Requests

NOTICE: This electronic mail message and any files transmitted with it are intended
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is strictly prohibited. If you have received this message in error, please
immediately advise the sender by reply email and delete all copies.

Good morning. Today I want to go over JHA and Symitar’s guidelines about how to write about numbers. I know we’ve covered this topic in the past, but it is one that we are asked about often. It is also high on the list of mistakes we see in submitted writing.

I’m going to toss a few rules at you, but hopefully, much of this will be review, so it won’t be overwhelming. This information comes directly from the JHA Style Guide (JHA employees can use the link to view the guide).

Rule 1:

Spell out zero through nine. Use numerals for 10 and greater.

Examples:

· Symitar signed eight clients to its Cruise core processing platform during the past 60 days.

· Respond to the query within 10 business days.

· A 5 percent discount is available.

Rule 2:

Use a numeral if the number identifies a specific item, unit, or value you must enter, even if it is less than 10.

Examples:

· The institution establishes transaction codes 1–99.

· Type 5 and click OK.

Rule 3:

Use a numeral for numbers that are part of a series, if at least one of the numbers is 10 or above.

Examples:

· The children are ages 2, 5, and 12.

· Codes 5–15 are available.

Rule 4:

Use a numeral before a unit of measurement, even if it is nine or below.

Units of measurement include:

· distance

· temperature

· volume

· size

· weight

· points or picas

· bits or bytes

Note: Hours, days, weeks, or any other units of time are not considered units of measurement for this guideline.

Examples:

· I read five pages in the book. (Because the number is nine or below, it is spelled out.)

· I ran 5 miles this week. (Because the number precedes a unit of measurement, it uses a numeral, even though it is nine or below. It is an exception to the rule illustrated by the previous example.)

Have a lovely day today.

Donna Bradley Burcher | Senior Technical Editor | Symitar®

8985 Balboa Ave. | San Diego, CA 92123 | Ph. 619.278.0432 | Extension: 765432

Symitar Technical Publications Writing and Editing Requests

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is strictly prohibited. If you have received this message in error, please
immediately advise the sender by reply email and delete all copies.

Dear Editrix,

I’m wondering if you can answer these questions for me about commas.

§ It has been driving me nuts lately that people have been putting a comma after “but.” For example, “I was going to go for a run but, then it started raining.” It is like nails on a chalkboard for me. Is there any case in which putting a comma after “but” makes sense?

§ Is a comma needed before “too”? For example, “I asked about that, too.” I see this used inconsistently.

Sincerely,

Miss B.

Dear Miss B.,

What interesting questions! Let’s start with that comma after the conjunction. Nails on a chalkboard is right! It looks like someone remembered a little something about grammar class, but it wasn’t the correct something. What we have here are two independent clauses joined by a conjunction. While we often see these clauses joined by and, but, or, nor, for, so, and yet, the comma comes before the conjunction. For example: I was walking to the store, but then I decided to ride my unicycle instead.

As for your second question, I am from the school that uses a comma with the word too when it is being used in place of also. I just always figured that was a rule. When I did a little digging; however, I discovered that it is less of a rule and more a matter of style. While many of us learned this as rule, it seems that commas are not required in these instances:

§ I, too, have decided to become a basket weaver. (Though the commas in this case provide emphasis.)

§ Bob said his brother resembled Al Capone, too.

I’d still include the commas, but that’s just me. You are free to forego them if your style is different.

Editrix

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Shifty Characters

In my last post, I discussed the 11 special character keys on a standard keyboard. Some readers asked about the other 21 special characters—the ones that share keys with numbers or other characters (like the exclamation point piggybacking on the 1 key).

Good news; it’s actually easier to write about these characters than their non-shifted counterparts. Because these characters always occur in combination with the Shift key, you can usually refer to them using Shift+<symbol> (for example, “Press Shift+!”). You don’t need to worry about the name of the symbol.

Here’s the rule as stated by the Microsoft Manual of Style:

“To show a key combination that includes punctuation that requires use of the Shift key, such as the question mark, add Shift to the combination and give the name or symbol of the shifted key. Using the name of the unshifted key, such as 4 rather than $, could be confusing to users or even wrong.”

Tip: Always spell out the names of the plus and minus signs, hyphen, period, and comma (for example, “Press Shift+Plus Sign”). This is to avoid writing confusing instructions like “Press Shift++” or “Press Ctrl+..”

Ben Ritter | Technical Editor | Symitar®
8985 Balboa Avenue | San Diego, CA 92123
619-682-3391 | or ext. 763391 | www.Symitar.com

Symitar Documentation Services

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The Chicago Manual of Style is up to its usual fun and games this month. Here are a few questions and answers from their monthly column, that relate to questions I’ve heard (or problems I’ve seen) in the office. Enjoy!

Q. Is a question mark called for in the following sentence? “I wonder when it will stop raining.” I believe that it is a statement and therefore a period is the required punctuation, but I see similar sentences with a question mark so often.

A. No question mark is needed, since “I wonder” is a statement, not a question.

Q. Does half need a hyphen when modifying a verb? For example, “He half listened to her story” or “She half walked, half ran.”

A. No hyphen—half may be treated like other adverbs. He barely listened; he half listened. She quickly walked; she half walked.

Q. This question has probably been asked before, but at work we are updating the human resources manual and nobody seems to know the answer. Is the apostrophe necessary in “two weeks’ notice” and “three days’ sick leave”? We will really appreciate your advice.

A. Yes, it has been asked before! Luckily for you, we are the soul of patience. The apostrophe is necessary, since those phrases express a type of possessive.

Kara Church

Technical Editor, Advisory

619-542-6773 | Ext: 766773

Symitar Documentation Services

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As promised, I spent my weekend searching for a dog to rescue and I kept my word! Some of you asked for a picture, so here his is: meet Harvey!

As far as non-personal information, I’d like to share two dog-related phrases and their meanings with you: the tail wagging the dog and dog days, as explained on the Grammarist website.

Tail Wagging the Dog

The tail wagging the dog describes a situation in which the thing which should be driven by circumstances instead is the thing driving the circumstances, it is a role-reversal. In modern times, an example would be the phenomenon of a news outlet reporting about an unimportant situation so often and so fervently that the situation becomes important, instead of the news outlet scheduling its reportage around situations that are inherently important. The idiom the tail wagging the dog seems to have originated in the United States in the 1870s. According to Google Ngram, the popularity of the idiom tail wagging the dog has risen steadily since then. A popular movie about political manipulation of the news media debuted in 1997, Wag the Dog.

Dog Days

The idiom dog days traditionally refers to the hottest period of the late summer. It has a long and interesting history. The Romans referred to the late-summer period as dies caniculares, literally meaning Dog Star days, out of the belief that the summer heat was caused by the proximity of the star Sirius (the brightest star and part of the Canis Major—Large Dog—constellation) to the sun during these months. This belief may have come from the Greeks or Egyptians.

For the Romans, the dog days fell between July 24 and August 24. This is still roughly the period denoted by dog days in modern use, but the term is often extended to mean either the late summer generally, any waning stage, or any period of stagnation or languid activity.

Kara Church

Technical Editor, Advisory

619-542-6773 | Ext: 766773

Symitar Documentation Services

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Good morning! I’ve been out of the office for the last couple of weeks, but before I left, I shared words coined by two famous authors: Charles Dickens and Samuel Coleridge. At the request of my friend, Chris W., today I’m sharing some whimsical words coined by novelist Lewis Carroll (author of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and many wonderful stories and poems).

I found these whimsical words and their definitions in THE WEEK online magazine. I have shortened some of the lengthy descriptions, but if you want to see the full descriptions along with examples of the words in use, click this link. Enjoy!

· boojum
The boojum is "a particularly dangerous variety of snark," an imaginary creature of Carroll’s invention. The word boojum has inspired the naming of everything from a species of tree, native to Baja California, Mexico…to a supersonic cruise missile…to a geometric pattern sometimes observed on the surface of superfluid helium-3…

· chortle
To chortle means "to exclaim exultingly, with a noisy chuckle." According to the Oxford English Dictionary (OED), Carroll coined the word as a blend of chuckle and snort.

· frabjous
Frabjous means "great, wonderful, fabulous," and is a blend of either fabulous and joyous, or fair and joyous. "O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!" cries the narrator of The Jabberwocky upon learning that the Jabberwock has been slain.

· galumph
Galumph means "to move heavily and clumsily," and is a blend of gallop and triumph.

· jabberwocky
The Jabberwocky is "a nonsensical poem that appears in Through the Looking-Glass by Lewis Carroll…Jabberwocky came to mean "nonsensical speech or writing" around 1908, says the OED.

· mimsy
Mimsy was coined by Lewis Carroll in 1855 as a blend of miserable and flimsy. According to the OED, by 1880 mimsy also came to mean, in British English, "prim; careful; affected; feeble, weak, lightweight."

· portmanteau word
A portmanteau word is "a word formed by merging the sounds and meanings of two different words." A portmanteau is "a case used in journeying for containing clothing," and comes from the French porter, "to carry," plus manteau, "cloak." Carroll coined portmanteau in 1882 based on the idea of "two meanings packed up into one word," says the Online Etymology Dictionary.

· slithy
In 1855, Carroll combined slimy and lithe to form this nonce word. However, slithy as a variation of sleathy, "slovenly, careless," has been around since 1622, says the OED.

· snark
Snark referring to "an imaginary animal" was coined by Carroll in 1876 in his poem, The Hunting of the Snark, according to the Online Etymology Dictionary. In the 1950s, snark was the "name of a type of U.S. cruise missile and in 1980s of a type of sailboat." The word snark also has the meaning of "to snore; to snort," which originated about 10 years before Carroll’s imaginary animal, according to the OED. This gave rise to snarky, "rudely sarcastic or disrespectful; snide," or "irritable or short-tempered; irascible," around 1906, which gives us snark’s modern meaning of "snide remarks."

· vorpal
Vorpal meaning "sharp or deadly" was coined by Carroll in 1871. In the role-playing game Dungeons and Dragons, the vorpal sword is a sword "capable of decapitation, specifically through magical means," which aligns with the plot of The Jabberwocky: "One, two! One, two! And through and through / The vorpal blade went snicker-snack! / He left it dead, and with its head / He went galumphing back."

Donna Bradley Burcher | Senior Technical Editor | Symitar®

8985 Balboa Ave. | San Diego, CA 92123 | Ph. 619.278.0432 | Extension: 765432

Symitar Technical Publications Writing and Editing Requests

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