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Sextus Posted 20 years ago
Grammar
Designate / Denote
This thread has its origin in a previous where I posted the following paragraph:
"I employ the term 'dogmatist' in the sense in which S. uses dogmatikos, namely, to designate someone who makes positive or negative assertions about the nature of things, on the basis of what he considers to be evidence and reasoned arguments."
There was some discussion about whether my use of "designate" is correct, and whether I should rather use "denote". I now think that "designate" is better. For it seems to me that one uses "designate" when the speaker or the thing designated is the subject:
"He uses the word W to designate the thing T."
"T is designated W."
And "denote" seems to be used when the word is the subject:
"The word W denotes the thing T."
What do you think?
"I employ the term 'dogmatist' in the sense in which S. uses dogmatikos, namely, to designate someone who makes positive or negative assertions about the nature of things, on the basis of what he considers to be evidence and reasoned arguments."
There was some discussion about whether my use of "designate" is correct, and whether I should rather use "denote". I now think that "designate" is better. For it seems to me that one uses "designate" when the speaker or the thing designated is the subject:
"He uses the word W to designate the thing T."
"T is designated W."
And "denote" seems to be used when the word is the subject:
"The word W denotes the thing T."
What do you think?
Top answer
While "googling", I found both usages. Though I know that this doesn't mean that both are correct.
- While "googling", I found both usages.
- Though I know that this doesn't mean that both are correct.
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3 Answers
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While "googling", I found both usages. Though I know that this doesn't mean that both are correct.
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Hi Sextus,
"I employ the term 'dogmatist' in the sense in which S. uses dogmatikos, namely, to designate someone who makes positive or negative assertions about the nature of things, on the basis of what he considers to be evidence and reasoned arguments."
That's a tough choice. In general terms, I'd say
denote - focuses on iden
"I employ the term 'dogmatist' in the sense in which S. uses dogmatikos, namely, to designate someone who makes positive or negative assertions about the nature of things, on the basis of what he considers to be evidence and reasoned arguments."
That's a tough choice. In general terms, I'd say
denote - focuses on iden
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Thanks for your answer, Clive.
Taking into account the examples you give, it seems to me (but I may be wrong) that my sentence looks more like the second one.
Taking into account the examples you give, it seems to me (but I may be wrong) that my sentence looks more like the second one.
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