Etc., etc.
Posted by Barry on June 07, 1998 at 11:57:53:
In response to Not sure what you mean, written by Caroline on June 06, 1998 at 22:45:58
] ] Perhaps a silly question -- does anyone know if the "etc., etc." used by Jane Austen in many of the letters she has in her novels is merely shorthand, or actually a convention used at the time by letter writers?
]
] Do you mean "Did she write etc. or did she write et cetera?" Or do you mean "Has someone left out some of the words she actually wrote on the paper? "
]
]
Caroline, I was referring to the convention in some of the letters in her novels -- for example the letters by Mr Gardiner to Mr Bennet in Chapter 49 and towards the end of Chapter 50 of P & P, to finish with the words "Your's, &c." -- was that an actual letter writing convention at the time, or merely Jane Austen's way of shortening Sincerely? In other letters, such as Mrs Gardiner's to Lizzy in Chapter 52, the letter ends with "Your's, Sincerely." I know it's a trivial point, but it had been puzzling to me.
--Barry
- You're not the only one puzzled. I've wondered that myself. Gayle 12:35:01 6/13/98
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- Until expert help arrives, we are free to speculate Barry 19:08:49 6/14/98
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- another small point to ponder Gayle 22:42:28 6/14/98
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- -----shire Barry 17:52:28 6/22/98
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- Why _____shire? Stolzi 09:37:19 6/15/98
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- Thanks! This sheds some light on the subject. (nfm) Gayle 22:51:23 6/15/98
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- Thanks! This sheds some light on the subject. (nfm) Gayle 22:51:23 6/15/98
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- -----shire Barry 17:52:28 6/22/98
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- another small point to ponder Gayle 22:42:28 6/14/98
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- Until expert help arrives, we are free to speculate Barry 19:08:49 6/14/98
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