atw: Re: disc/disk

I think the point has been lost. These days, we all use disc for
non-computing discs and disk for computing ones, but this came about as
a result of our capitulation to the US way of spelling it. 

 

Back in the 70s and 80s 'diskette' and the abbreviation 'disk' only came
into being as a result of the DP/IT push into Australia and many
(including myself) refused to have the US spelling foisted upon us so we
used 'disc' when referring to floppy discs. I only started using  'disk'
in the mid 90s because of some documents I was doing for a US market but
the continual bombardment of 'disk' by the US led IT industry made us
all roll over around that time.

 

I note with amusement that the SOED (4th Ed.) refers to the word 'disk'
as the more common use in computing but then goes on to only use 'disc'
in the description. I wonder if the latest edition has amended this.
BTW, their description of 'disc' is much more comprehensive and includes
the IT usage. :-)

 

Cheers,

 

Bruce Ashley

 

  _____  

From: Suzanne [mailto:sapearce@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] 
Sent: Monday, August 21, 2006 8:04 PM
To: austechwriter@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: atw: Re: disc/disk

 

A floppy disk.

A CD (Circular Disc).

A DVD (Digital Video Disc).

 

Suzanne

 

  _____  

From: austechwriter-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:austechwriter-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of
marcia.bascombe@xxxxxxxx
Sent: Monday, 21 August 2006 2:47 PM
To: austechwriter@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: atw: disc/disk

 

disc (anat.)
disc - a gramophone record

disk (computing)

---------------------------------
Regards

Marcia Bascombe
MYOB Australia Pty Ltd
Tel: +61 3 9222 9992 ext. 7413
<http://myob.com/au>

Other related posts: