Everyone has to deal with documents to one degree or another, learn basic rules, or check samples at a stand. Because each symbol in official papers has a certain meaning, and incorrect spelling or interpretation will easily erase many months of work. Today, the initial is part of the name with its own rules for writing. But has it always been like this? How the term was transformed over the centuries, what meanings were laid in it? To understand, just look into foreign dictionaries.
Historical Review
Philologists trace strict borrowing from Latin. The word is often used in the plural, but "initial" is also acceptable. This is less common, but does not contradict generally accepted rules. The original is called initialis, translated as "initial." Used in relation to the first letters of any expression or individual concept.
Modern interpretations
What is it about? The speaker usually implies an attempt to shorten the recording. Classic initial letters - characters:
- Name, patronymic, last name.
- Phrases or names.
Moreover, there is a rule according to which the last name comes first in the alphabetical list or bibliography. But in a statement to an official or in a response to a private person, they first write down the abbreviations of the name with middle name. In both cases, do not forget to put periods and spaces as between independent words.
In the 21st century, it would not occur to anyone to trim the conditional “Divine Grace” to “B. M. ”, although earlier this was considered the norm. In the framework of a thematic text with stable expressions, this initial looked harmonious, it allowed to save expensive parchment, to avoid the risk of errors. In addition, it served as a kind of cipher. Now you can see on the jewelry.
A synonym for initial letters
When it comes to manuscripts, you need to remember the old way of writing and copying books. Each tome is a work of art, where it is necessary to elegantly divide paragraphs and indicate the exclusivity of the volume. The initial helped in this - in a special way the initial letter is made:
- all text;
- chapters;
- paragraph, etc.
The author or customer chose what specifically he wants. Change only the size or resort to an ornament, stylization with the help of drawings? Until now, some publishers and writers have used the method to give identity.
Household use
What is the use of contemporaries? If you need to sign a receipt or agree on a contract, you do not have to suffer in an uncomfortable position, drawing each squiggle. Significantly speeds up many working moments.