Difference between revisions of "Artefact - artifact"
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| − | '''Art<big>e</big>fact''' is the usual spelling in British English. American English | + | '''Art<big>e</big>fact''' is the usual spelling in British English. American English prefers the spelling '''art<big>i</big>fact'''. |
| − | In both forms, this word derives from the [[Latin]] | + | In both forms, this word derives from the [[Latin]]: ''art-'' means 'art', or 'craft'; ''fact'' means 'made'. The relationship was shown in the Latin by the ending of the first word. A thing ''art<big>e</big> factum'' (the [[ablative]] case) was a thing 'made <u>by</u> art [or craft]'. A thing ''art<big>i</big> factum'' (the [[dative]] case) was a thing made '<u>for</u> art [or craft]'. |
The American spelling <strike>art<u>i</u>fact</strike> is seen as a mistake. | The American spelling <strike>art<u>i</u>fact</strike> is seen as a mistake. | ||
If you are an archaeologist and find an object made by humans, you may not be able to judge why it was made. So your choice of whether to write '''art<big>e</big>fact''' or '''art<big>i</big>fact''' has to be a matter of convention. If you are not an [[archaeology|archaeologist]], it is a matter of convention anyway; and in the UK, the convention is to write it as '''art<big>e</big>fact'''. | If you are an archaeologist and find an object made by humans, you may not be able to judge why it was made. So your choice of whether to write '''art<big>e</big>fact''' or '''art<big>i</big>fact''' has to be a matter of convention. If you are not an [[archaeology|archaeologist]], it is a matter of convention anyway; and in the UK, the convention is to write it as '''art<big>e</big>fact'''. | ||
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| + | ::'''''[[etymology|Etymological]] note''''': ''[[OED]]'' (2008) gives a fuller and more accurate explanation: "[The spelling with '-e-' comes from] classical [[Latin]] ''arte'', [[ablative]] of ''ARS'' 'art' ''n.<sup>1</sup>'' + ''factum'', [[neuter]] [[past participle]] of ''facere'' 'to make' (see FACT ''n.''). [The spelling with '-i-'] apparently altered after classical Latin ''arti-'' , alternative stem of ''ARS'' 'art' n.1, in e.g. ''artifex'' artifex n., ''artificium'' artifice n." | ||
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[[category:AmE]] | [[category:AmE]] | ||
| + | [[Category:British English]] | ||
| + | [[Category:Spelling common errors]] | ||
| + | [[Category:etymology]] | ||
| + | [[Category:etymological curiosities]] | ||
Latest revision as of 13:35, 20 March 2017
Artefact is the usual spelling in British English. American English prefers the spelling artifact.
In both forms, this word derives from the Latin: art- means 'art', or 'craft'; fact means 'made'. The relationship was shown in the Latin by the ending of the first word. A thing arte factum (the ablative case) was a thing 'made by art [or craft]'. A thing arti factum (the dative case) was a thing made 'for art [or craft]'.
The American spelling artifact is seen as a mistake.
If you are an archaeologist and find an object made by humans, you may not be able to judge why it was made. So your choice of whether to write artefact or artifact has to be a matter of convention. If you are not an archaeologist, it is a matter of convention anyway; and in the UK, the convention is to write it as artefact.
- Etymological note: OED (2008) gives a fuller and more accurate explanation: "[The spelling with '-e-' comes from] classical Latin arte, ablative of ARS 'art' n.1 + factum, neuter past participle of facere 'to make' (see FACT n.). [The spelling with '-i-'] apparently altered after classical Latin arti- , alternative stem of ARS 'art' n.1, in e.g. artifex artifex n., artificium artifice n."
