Teachers, please teach the correct thing
Dear Editor,
For over two decades I have asked the question in class: “What does N B mean?” I invariably get the answer: “note briefly”. One or two students might give the correct answer. However, sometimes I only get the incorrect answer: “note briefly”. I don’t even think the students understand what they are saying. What does “note briefly” really mean?
God bless the Cornwall College old boy who declared, “I was taught that it means “note well”. That, my friends, is the correct answer.
It is often an exercise in futility asking my students, “What do the letters N B stand for? This is not the same as asking, “What does N B mean? This frequently used abbreviation stands for “nota bene” which is Latin for “note well”. Interestingly, the abbreviation is also N B in French (notez bien) and Spanish (nótese bien).
I have received the incorrect answer so many times that I believe that there must be some input from teachers. Furthermore, some students have confirmed that this is what they learnt in school.
The error is quite likely made because people interpret this abbreviation as English. It is not.
Many of the abbreviations that we use are of Latin in origin. Years ago, I was at pains to explain that “A D” does not mean after death but, in the year of our Lord – literally. This error is made because “B C” is English for before christ.
We also have “e g” and “i e” The former stands for exempli gratia (for example) and the latter means id est (that is). Again, both abbreviations are of Latin origin.
Languages borrow from each other. English is not exclusively English. When we use the terms “post-mortem” (after death), “a m” (ante meridiem or before midday), and “p m” (post meridiem or after midday), we are using Latin expressions.
Let me end with the French abbreviation “R S V P” This is often found at the end of invitations to an event, especially wedding receptions. I take it that some people don’t realise that a response is required. For those who understand that they are to reply, few know that the letters actually stand for Répondez s’il vous plaît (please reply). And, nota bene, there is no ‘S’ in répondez.