THE HOME FORUM © viz. Tips on how to become a whiz T hree Latin abbreviations cause no end of confusion in English, viz. and itself. I had to think carefully about the correct way to use here, because it is an abbreviation I have often read – 18th- and 19th-century texts are chock-full of – yet never before employed. and can be confounding enough, without bringing into it. They are “frequently confused even by the most conscientious writers,” according to Merriam-Webster. The three abbreviations seem to have appeared in the 15th and 16th centuries, when English speakers were in the habit of poaching terms from Latin legalese. ( “by way of example”) is by far the most popular today, according to Google Books Ngram Viewer. It is basically a fancy way to say “for example” as it is used to introduce specific examples of a more general topic or point: “She trains big dogs, e.g., Great Danes, mastiffs, Rottweilers.” always implies that what follows is not an exhaustive list – our trainer might also work with, say, Irish wolfhounds – so it is redundant to conclude with “etc.” or “and so on.” If you’re trying to figure out whether it’s the right abbreviation for your sentence, this mnemonic might be helpful: equals “example given.” stands for “that is.” In English it is best translated as “that is to say,” as in “My dog is a typical Great Dane, i.e., large, loyal, and friendly.” According to Fowler’s Modern English Usage, introduces “another way ... of putting what has already been said.” It is a restatement of what has come before. This can trespass into s territory, when the restatement comprises a comprehensive list: “She trains big dogs; i.e., Great Danes, mastiffs, and Rottweilers.” In this case, indicates that she trains only these three dog breeds. The mne- monic I like for is “in essence.” Then there is short for (“it is permissible to see” in Latin; pronounced vi-DEL-i-set), which was once the most popular of these abbreviations. In 1810 it was used about 10 times more frequently than either or appearing not just in scholarly treatises and legal briefs but in personal letters and diaries. Writers sprinkled it so liberally across their compositions that modern mavens have a hard time pinning down rules for its use. Like can preface an exhaustive list, so the University of North Carolina writing center calls it “a stronger version of i.e.” But others stress differences between the two, finding that where paraphrases its antecedent, clarifies it or adds more detail. What most modern experts do agree on is that has had its day. and are enough to handle by themselves. As language expert Brian Garner jokes, “How does one pronounce Preferably by saying ‘namely.’” i.e. viz., E.g. videlicet i.e., e.g., viz. viz. e.g., i.e. IN A WORD BY MELISSA MOHR viz. I.e. e.g. e.g. id est, viz. I.e. i.e., viz. i.e. i.e. viz. E.g. exempli gratia, e.g.’ viz. I.e. e.g. viz.? i.e. r Prayer – an effective form of action M any years ago, when working in law enforcement, I was in a situation where a crowd formed very quickly and began throwing bottles and rocks at us. Immediately, I turned to God for help. Although I don’t recall the specifics of my prayer, I do remember praying to feel unity. The order was given to us to “hold our ground.” At first, I thought we should either move forward or retreat to cover. However, I did follow orders, as did the other officers. There’s a deeper, spiritual sense of “holding our ground” that I am also familiar with. In “Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures,” Mary Baker Eddy, the discoverer of Christian Science and founder of this news organization, says, “Hold your ground with the unshaken understanding of Truth and Love, and you will win” (p. 417). In this instance she is specifically referring to healing sickness, but I’ve found this idea helpful in situations of all kinds, including conflict. Christian Science explains that there is no legitimate power opposed to God, who is divine Truth and Love. “Winning” to me means seeing the Christ, the Truth that Jesus demonstrated, all around us. The Christ-idea comes harmoniously to each and every one of us, helping us realize our real, spiritual identity as God’s children – unified, peaceful, safe. This realization enables us to neither retreat nor charge, but instead to steadfastly hold our position – hold to the goodness and harmony of God’s creation. Divine Love is ever present and all-powerful, here to guide everyone in taking the right steps. Each of us can affirm God’s allness anytime, anywhere, in any set of circumstances. And taking this prayerful stand supports a peaceful outcome. This proved to be true in that situation with the crowd. None of us were hit by the debris being thrown at us, and suddenly the crowd dispersed. To me this experience showed how the light of the Christ, God’s saving power, is always shining right where we are, revealing God’s children to be safe, protected. It’s a message I’ve taken to heart thinking about protests that turn violent, looting, and other unrest we see these days. While protests, when peaceful, can be a valid expression of discontent with the status quo, for those wanting to make a difference, taking to the streets isn’t the only option available. Praying more diligently and consistently is an important step. There’s a passage in Science and Health that helps us understand how to pray effectively. Mrs. Eddy referred to the “humble prayers” of Jesus, who demonstrated God’s healing and saving power in profound ways, as “deep and conscientious protests of Truth, – of man’s likeness to God and of man’s unity with Truth and Love” (p. 12). Each of us can take part in this form of action – in prayer that is a spiritual and mental protest against the notion that any problem is beyond the reach of God’s healing power. Such prayer opens the door for the light of Christ to shine, even in the darkness. A CHRISTIAN SCIENCE PERSPECTIVE – Martin Vesely THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR WEEKLY | DECEMBER 7, 2020 33 PRINTED AND DISTRIBUTED BY PRESSREADER PressReader.com +1 604 278 4604 ORIGINAL COPY . ORIGINAL COPY . ORIGINAL COPY . ORIGINAL COPY . ORIGINAL COPY . ORIGINAL COPY COPYRIGHT AND PROTECTED BY APPLICABLE LAW