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Sextus Posted 20 years ago
Vocabulary

Backreference

Does the word "backreference" exist?

Suppose there is a work consisting of five books. A guy argues that these books are only the extant books of that work, which originally consisted of ten books. The five lost books constituted the first part of the work. Now, can he say: "this hypothesis explains the backrefences we find in the second and third chapters of book six." ?

Thanks,

Sextus
  

Top answer

Perhaps with a hyphen "back-reference", or rather two words "back reference"? Sextus

— Sextus

  • Perhaps with a hyphen "back-reference", or rather two words "back reference"?
  • Sextus
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9 Answers
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Perhaps with a hyphen "back-reference", or rather two words "back reference"?

Sextus
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I think, either way, the reader's interpretation will not be as certain as what you've explained here as your intended meaning.
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Ok, I get it. But do the word "backreference" or the compound "back-reference" exist?

Also, if I state: "This hypothesis explains the back-references at AD V 144 and 167", what do you think I'm saying?

Sextus
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Sextus
Ok, I get it. But do the word "backreference" or the compound "back-reference" exist?

Also, if I state: "This hypothesis explains the back-references at AD V 144 and 167", what do you think I'm saying?

Sextus

I couldn't find any example of the word, hyphenated or not, and I'm not sure I, as a reader, would know wha
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And if I just say "reference"?

Sextus
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Maybe:

"This hypothesis would explain the otherwise blind cross-references at X and Y..."

MrP
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Yep, cross-reference is the word.

What if I say:

"This would explain some strange references to previous discussions of certain topics." ?

Sextus
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Yes, that's fine. Or "otherwise inexplicable"?
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Yes, that would be much better.

Thanks P.

Sextus
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