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FW: Archive v. archives



> I'm so pleased you brought up this subject.  I've often wondered about it
> myself.
> Here are my two cents:
>       This is based on nothing scientific, just my own opinion, but it
> seems to me that trained archivists use the term "archives" as both a
> plural and singular noun, whereas people who perhaps are not as trained in
> archives use the term "archive."  Personally, I prefer to always use
> "archives" (singular or plural) similar to the way words like fish and
> deer are used.
>       I think perhaps the use of the word "archive" has become more
> prevalent in recent years by computer and technology-based career people
> who are using it as a verb, as in to place something in an archives for
> protection/safekeeping (for instance, "archiving" electronic records,
> websites, etc.).
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Richard Pearce-Moses [SMTP:rpm@PRIMENET.COM]
> Sent: Wednesday, November 08, 2000 9:54 AM
> To:   ARCHIVES@LISTSERV.MUOHIO.EDU
> Subject:      Archive v. archives
>
> My copy of Websters' 20th (1980) includes the word "archives," but not
> "archive."   The Random House dictionary in the reading room has the entry
> under "archive" with a note that it's usually "archives;" but it also uses
> the singular form in its example.  My copy of the SAA Glossary is at home,
> but I recall that it prefers "archives;" I don't recall if it lists the
> singular.
>
> I've always found some value in having both "singular" and "plural" form
> of
> the word to help distinguish when one is speaking of one repository or
> collection v. many.
>
> I'm not sure there's ever any "correct" answer when it comes to usage, but
> there are preferences.
>
> I would be curious if members of this list feel strongly as to whether one
> form or the other is good or bad.  And why.
>
> Richard Pearce-Moses
>  RPM@Primenet.Com
>
> A posting from the Archives & Archivists LISTSERV List!
>
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>
> Problems?  Send e-mail to Robert F Schmidt <rschmidt@lib.muohio.edu>

A posting from the Archives & Archivists LISTSERV List!

To subscribe or unsubscribe, send e-mail to listserv@listserv.muohio.edu
      In body of message:  SUB ARCHIVES firstname lastname
                    *or*:  UNSUB ARCHIVES
To post a message, send e-mail to archives@listserv.muohio.edu

Or to do *anything* (and enjoy doing it!), use the web interface at
     http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/archives.html

Problems?  Send e-mail to Robert F Schmidt <rschmidt@lib.muohio.edu>