tome vs folio

Question

Hi,(1) Both terms are "common enough" in modern English?(2) I guess not all tomes are folios?On the other hand, I am right in thinking that most folios can well be called tomes?mus-te

Mister Micawber · Accepted Answer

MUSCOVITE1) Both terms are "common enough" in modern English?

What do you mean by 'common enough'? Most people have no occasion to use the words. Many do not know the meanings.

MUSCOVITE(2) I guess not all tomes are folios?On the other hand, I am right in thinking that most folios can well be called tomes?

Yes: a tome is just a big book. A folio is of a specific size.

MUSCOVITE · Answer

Mister MicawberWhat do you mean by 'common enough'? Most people have no occasion to use the words. Many do not know the meanings.

Many Russian speakers pretty often use the word "folio" (I mean its Russian "counterpart" based on the same Latin root) humorously.
Example dialog:
A. Are you finished with the project specs yet?
B. You must be kidding... (Pointing his finger at a large folder with the project materials) It can take me a week to have looked this folio through

What term would YOU use in this example? Does "folio" work OK here?
Would YOU use "tome" or "folio" in this context? Or maybe my example does not make sense to you at all?

Mister Micawber · Answer

MUSCOVITEWhat term would YOU use in this example? Does "folio" work OK here?

'Folio' doesn't do the job in English. 'Tome' is used by many there. 'Opus' or even 'magnum opus' would be employed by others, I think.

Anonymous · Answer

In the US, the word "tome" is almost never heard, except in comedic situations where you're ridiculing a book, since the word "tome" implies an archaic or overly scholarly publication.  "Folio" is rarely heard.  One place it is heard is in referring to the original printings of Shakespeare's plays.

tome vs folio

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