Jan 15, 2010 17:23
14 yrs ago
2 viewers *
English term
cd (capitalised or not?)
Non-PRO
English
Marketing
Marketing
website promoting classical music
Simple question, and I think I know the answer already, but I'd just like to check.
I've received a text for final proofreading which says "Take a look inside this book and listen to the music on the cd if you want to know how to make your day relaxing with classical music."
Now, I would normally write "CD" myself, but is it actually incorrect to write "cd"? I don't want to change it if it isn't actually wrong, but it's not at all easy to check it out.
So, votes please. Thanks.
I've received a text for final proofreading which says "Take a look inside this book and listen to the music on the cd if you want to know how to make your day relaxing with classical music."
Now, I would normally write "CD" myself, but is it actually incorrect to write "cd"? I don't want to change it if it isn't actually wrong, but it's not at all easy to check it out.
So, votes please. Thanks.
Responses
4 +15 | CD | Andrey Belousov (X) |
References
Use a dictionary | urbom |
Responses
+15
3 mins
Selected
CD
since it's an abbreviation = Compact Disc
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 4 mins (2010-01-15 17:27:44 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compact_Disc
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 4 mins (2010-01-15 17:27:44 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compact_Disc
Peer comment(s):
agree |
Susana Valdez
0 min
|
Thanks!
|
|
agree |
Mark Nathan
0 min
|
Thanks!
|
|
agree |
Jack Doughty
: I have never actually seen this abbreviation in lower case.
1 min
|
Thanks!
|
|
agree |
MPGS
: :)
2 mins
|
Thanks!
|
|
agree |
Nibus
: absolutely, CD
3 mins
|
Thanks!
|
|
agree |
Rolf Keiser
4 mins
|
Thanks!
|
|
agree |
Sven Petersson
: cd = candela
6 mins
|
Thanks!
|
|
agree |
Yasutomo Kanazawa
7 mins
|
Thanks!
|
|
agree |
English2Korean
10 mins
|
Thanks, English2Korean!
|
|
agree |
jccantrell
: While this is correct, I am finding that caps appear to be considered more and more optional by people of my kids' generation. Maybe has to do with cell phone texting, but I always feel like I am reading e.e. cummings.
48 mins
|
Thanks!
|
|
agree |
writeaway
: easily checkable on www and in dicos
2 hrs
|
Thanks!
|
|
agree |
Stanislaw Czech, MCIL CL
3 hrs
|
Thanks!
|
|
agree |
Stephanie Ezrol
4 hrs
|
Thanks!
|
|
agree |
inmb
: even in Polish, it's CD; I assume it was carelessly written
4 hrs
|
Thanks!
|
|
agree |
Peter Skipp
: There is, however, a very clear (err-r... "past-emerged," to coin a phrase) trend to lowercasing formerly capitalised abbreviations, as also noted by jjcantrell. I'd check with the client for their preference...
16 hrs
|
Thanks!
|
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Guess what, Andrey - you got the points! Thanks for your patience for what must have seemed a silly question"
Reference comments
32 mins
Reference:
Use a dictionary
Why not use a reputable dictionary as a reference? The Compact Oxford English Dictionary of Current English is searchable online free of charge: http://www.askoxford.com/dictionaries/?view=uk
(... and it gives only the fully capitalised spelling, no lower-case variant.)
(... and it gives only the fully capitalised spelling, no lower-case variant.)
Discussion
In the first 10 pages of results returned by Google after searching for +CD, I don't see a single instance of a lower-case spelling in running text (i.e. not in a page title, URL, keywords etc.) that refers to a compact disc. A few of the hits refer to certificates of deposit or computer commands, so let's say that 0 out of 95 occurrences in that sample are in lower case and refer to compact discs.
Personally, I'd find that sort of ratio, combined with a glance in a reputable dictionary and perhaps another style guide or two for good measure, quite persuasive.