Skip to main content
MathOverflow

Return to Question

Left closed in review as "Original close reason(s) were not resolved" by Alex M., András Bátkai, Arun Debray
added 1 character in body
Source Link
bof
bof
  • 13.4k
  • 2
  • 43
  • 66

In Denes and Keedwell's book the word "latin" is not capitalized, and there seems to be some precedent in the literature for this usage. However, the vast majority of work on the subject capitalizes the term "Latin square."

Indeed, most English dictionaries and computer spell checkers treat the word Latin as a proper noun. To me, this doesn't seem a particularly compelling argument for its usage in mathematics as, for example, neither MiriamMerriam Webster nor Dictionary.com contain an entry for the word "quasigroup."

Perhaps this is a pedantic question, but I have encountered it in personal correspondence several times in the past couple of months. Nonetheless, it may also be worth asking if there is any value to having a consistent convention within the mathematical community.

In Denes and Keedwell's book the word "latin" is not capitalized, and there seems to be some precedent in the literature for this usage. However, the vast majority of work on the subject capitalizes the term "Latin square."

Indeed, most English dictionaries and computer spell checkers treat the word Latin as a proper noun. To me, this doesn't seem a particularly compelling argument for its usage in mathematics as, for example, neither Miriam Webster nor Dictionary.com contain an entry for the word "quasigroup."

Perhaps this is a pedantic question, but I have encountered it in personal correspondence several times in the past couple of months. Nonetheless, it may also be worth asking if there is any value to having a consistent convention within the mathematical community.

In Denes and Keedwell's book the word "latin" is not capitalized, and there seems to be some precedent in the literature for this usage. However, the vast majority of work on the subject capitalizes the term "Latin square."

Indeed, most English dictionaries and computer spell checkers treat the word Latin as a proper noun. To me, this doesn't seem a particularly compelling argument for its usage in mathematics as, for example, neither Merriam Webster nor Dictionary.com contain an entry for the word "quasigroup."

Perhaps this is a pedantic question, but I have encountered it in personal correspondence several times in the past couple of months. Nonetheless, it may also be worth asking if there is any value to having a consistent convention within the mathematical community.

Post Closed as "Not suitable for this site" by Alexandre Eremenko, godelian, abx, Ben Barber, Najib Idrissi
Became Hot Network Question
Source Link
KcH
KcH
  • 180
  • 1
  • 6

Should the "L" in the term latin/Latin square be capitalized?

In Denes and Keedwell's book the word "latin" is not capitalized, and there seems to be some precedent in the literature for this usage. However, the vast majority of work on the subject capitalizes the term "Latin square."

Indeed, most English dictionaries and computer spell checkers treat the word Latin as a proper noun. To me, this doesn't seem a particularly compelling argument for its usage in mathematics as, for example, neither Miriam Webster nor Dictionary.com contain an entry for the word "quasigroup."

Perhaps this is a pedantic question, but I have encountered it in personal correspondence several times in the past couple of months. Nonetheless, it may also be worth asking if there is any value to having a consistent convention within the mathematical community.