[DCRM-L] Asterism

[Deborah J. Leslie]

Oh no, it was serious. I like using a single word that exactly describes
character in a signature statement or in a note, and think your
workarounds are less descriptive and less elegant. Why would you feel
constrained to explain a standard dictionary word? 

 

From: dcrm-l-bounces at lib.byu.edu [mailto:dcrm-l-bounces at lib.byu.edu] On
Behalf Of Noble, Richard
Sent: Sunday, 30 October, 2011 21:19
To: DCRM Revision Group List
Subject: Re: [DCRM-L] Asterism

 

If I were referring to such a phenomenon in a non-collation note I'd
feel constrained to explain it: "asterism (i.e. 3 asterisks in a
pyramid)". What of an inverted pyramid (much more common)? And in a
collational formula I'd write "3*", and describe the arrangement in a
further note, if the exact form needed specifying for some reason. What
about six asterisks in a pyramid? 

 

Or is this a thickly pedantic response to a slightly tongue-in-cheek
suggestion (for which I get maybe the lower half of a star for taking
the bait, but no more than that)?

 

It's a wonderful word, nevertheless.


RICHARD NOBLE : RARE BOOKS CATALOGER : JOHN HAY LIBRARY : BROWN
UNIVERSITY
PROVIDENCE, RI 02912 : 401-863-1187/FAX 863-3384 :
RICHARD_NOBLE at BROWN.EDU 



On Sat, Oct 29, 2011 at 9:18 PM, Deborah J. Leslie <DJLeslie at folger.edu>
wrote:

This is going around on facebook just now: there's a name for the
pyramid of three asterisks: asterism.  We can use it in signature
statements instead of trying to describe it, a la "[three asterisks in a
pyramid]" .

 

http://www.buzzfeed.com/expresident/13-punctuation-marks-that-you-never-
knew-existed 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asterism_%28typography%29 

 

Deborah J. Leslie, M.A., M.L.S. | Head of Cataloging, Folger Shakespeare
Library

djleslie at folger.edu <mailto:djleslie at folger.edu>  | 202.675-0369 |
www.folger.edu

 

 

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