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| {{Short description|Disc vs. disk}} | |||
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| {{Other uses|Disc (disambiguation){{!}}Disc}} | |||
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| ⚫ | {{Wiktionary|disc|disk}} | ||
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| ''Disc'' and ''disk'' are both variants of the English word for objects of a generally thin and cylindrical geometry. The differences in spelling correspond both with regional differences and with different ] of the word. For example, in the case of ] the convention is that the spelling ''disk'' is used for ] (e.g., ]s) while ''disc'' is used for ] (e.g., ]s, better known as CDs). When there is no clear convention, the spelling ''disk'' is more popular in ], while the spelling ''disc'' is more popular in ]. | |||
| ⚫ | |||
| ==Disk== | |||
| By the 20th century, the ''c''-spelling was more popular in ], while the ''k''-spelling was preferred in ]. In the 1950s, when the American company ] pioneered the first ] storage devices, the ''k''-spelling was used. However, some latter-day storage device manufacturers prefer the ''c''-spelling. In 1979 the Dutch company ], along with ], developed the ] medium; here, the ''c''-spelling was chosen, possibly because of the predominating British spelling, or because the compact disc was seen as a successor to the analogue disc record. One explanation is the fact that the spelling ''disc'' is acceptable to the French, just as ] introduced the ] in the 1960s under a French name, too. Most people in the U.S.A. currently spell disk with a k. | |||
| ⚫ | The earlier word is ''disk'', which came into the ] in the middle of the 17th century. In the 19th century, ''disk'' became the conventional spelling for ]s made on a flat plate, such as the ]. Early ] technicians differentiated between ''disks'' (in-house transcription records) and ''discs'' (the colloquial term for commercial gramophone records, or what the BBC dubbed CGRs).<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.orbem.co.uk/grams/grams_4.htm |title= Test Records |date= 2008-03-12 |accessdate= 2013-08-15 |author=Barry Taylor }}</ref> | ||
| == UK versus U.S. == | |||
| Whatever their heritage, in ] today it is common for the ''k''-spelling to refer mainly to magnetic storage devices (particularly in British English, where the term ''disk'' is sometimes regarded as an abbreviation for '']'' (a much later word), or is taken to refer to an object constructed from discs rather than a disc itself). The ''c''-spelling is then used for optical media such as the compact disc and similar technologies;<ref>, Paul Brians</ref> ] considers this usage to be official.<ref>{{cite web| url= http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=302152| title= What's the difference between a "disc" and a "disk"?| accessdate= 2006-07-09| author= Apple, Inc.| authorlink= Apple Inc.|date= 2005-08-15}}</ref> Even in the computing field, however, the terms are used inconsistently; software documentation often using one or the other spelling exclusively. | |||
| By the 20th century, the "k" spelling was more popular in the United States, while the "c" variant was preferred in the UK.<ref>{{cite book | |||
| | title = ] | |||
| | publisher = ] | |||
| | quote = The earlier and better spelling is disk, but disc is now the more usual form in British English, except in sense 2g , where disk is commoner as a result of US influence.}}</ref> In the 1950s, when the American company ] pioneered the first ] storage devices, it used the "k" spelling. Consequently, in ] today it is common for the "k" word to refer mainly to magnetic storage devices<ref>{{cite web |url= http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2300 |title= What's the difference between a "disc" and a "disk?" |date= |accessdate= 2012-02-28 |author= |publisher= ]}}</ref> (particularly in British English, where the term ''disk'' is sometimes regarded as a contraction of '']'', a much later word and actually a diminutive of ''disk''). Kodak's 1982 ] used the -c variant. The ] developed by the British ] in 1987, and was subsequently forked when Acorn stopped working on it, uses the spelling 'disc' for magnetic media. | |||
| ==Computer discs== | |||
| Beyond the realm of technical terminology, usage generally follows local spelling patterns and preferences. | |||
| Some latter-day competitors to IBM prefer the ''c''-spelling. In 1979, the Dutch company ], along with ], developed and trademarked the ] using the "c" spelling. The "c" spelling is now used consistently for optical media such as the compact disc and similar technologies.<ref>{{cite web| url= https://brians.wsu.edu/2016/05/25/disc-disk/ |title=Common Errors in English |author=Paul Brians |publisher=] |access-date= 2008-06-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020613020037/http://www.wsu.edu/~brians/errors/disc.html |archive-date=2002-06-13 |url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
| == |
==Medical editing== | ||
| The words ''disc'' and ''disk'' can appear frequently in ]s and textbooks, especially those in ] and ]s, and thus ]s often foster consistency by giving rules for which contexts take which spelling. ] for this topic is used by many publications. AMA says, "For ophthalmologic terms, use ''disc'' (e.g., ''optic disc''); for other anatomical terms, use ''disk'' (e.g., ''lumbar disk''). In discussions related to computers, use ''disk'' (e.g., ''floppy disk, disk drive, diskette'') (exceptions: ''compact disc, videodisc'')."<ref name="AMA_10e_11.1">{{Citation |last=Iverson |first=Cheryl |title=] |edition=10th |publisher=] |location=Oxford, Oxfordshire |year=2007 |isbn=9780683043518 |chapter=11.1 Correct and Preferred Usage of Common Words and Phrases |chapter-url=http://www.amamanualofstyle.com/ |postscript=.}}</ref> | |||
| * ] | |||
| ==Sports== | |||
| ], or disc games, are a category of activities which involve throwing and/or catching a ]. Participants of disc sports consistently use the "c" spelling when describing the sports equipment used in these activities, which includes team sports such as ] or individual sports such as ]. This is a parallel to the spelling of "discus," the flat and round weight thrown in the track and field sport ]. | |||
| == References == | == References == | ||
| {{ |
{{Reflist|30em}} | ||
| ==Further reading== | == Further reading == | ||
| {{refbegin}} | {{refbegin}} | ||
| * |
* | ||
| {{refend}} | {{refend}} | ||
| ] | ] | ||
| ] | ] | ||
| ] | |||
Latest revision as of 16:49, 13 November 2024
Disc vs. disk For other uses, see Disc.Disc and disk are both variants of the English word for objects of a generally thin and cylindrical geometry. The differences in spelling correspond both with regional differences and with different senses of the word. For example, in the case of flat, rotational data storage media the convention is that the spelling disk is used for magnetic storage (e.g., hard disks) while disc is used for optical storage (e.g., compact discs, better known as CDs). When there is no clear convention, the spelling disk is more popular in American English, while the spelling disc is more popular in British English.
Disk
The earlier word is disk, which came into the English language in the middle of the 17th century. In the 19th century, disk became the conventional spelling for audio recordings made on a flat plate, such as the gramophone record. Early BBC technicians differentiated between disks (in-house transcription records) and discs (the colloquial term for commercial gramophone records, or what the BBC dubbed CGRs).
UK versus U.S.
By the 20th century, the "k" spelling was more popular in the United States, while the "c" variant was preferred in the UK. In the 1950s, when the American company IBM pioneered the first hard disk drive storage devices, it used the "k" spelling. Consequently, in computer terminology today it is common for the "k" word to refer mainly to magnetic storage devices (particularly in British English, where the term disk is sometimes regarded as a contraction of diskette, a much later word and actually a diminutive of disk). Kodak's 1982 disc film used the -c variant. The RISC OS developed by the British Acorn Computers in 1987, and was subsequently forked when Acorn stopped working on it, uses the spelling 'disc' for magnetic media.
Computer discs
Some latter-day competitors to IBM prefer the c-spelling. In 1979, the Dutch company Philips, along with Sony, developed and trademarked the compact disc using the "c" spelling. The "c" spelling is now used consistently for optical media such as the compact disc and similar technologies.
Medical editing
The words disc and disk can appear frequently in medical journals and textbooks, especially those in ophthalmology and orthopedics, and thus style guides often foster consistency by giving rules for which contexts take which spelling. AMA style for this topic is used by many publications. AMA says, "For ophthalmologic terms, use disc (e.g., optic disc); for other anatomical terms, use disk (e.g., lumbar disk). In discussions related to computers, use disk (e.g., floppy disk, disk drive, diskette) (exceptions: compact disc, videodisc)."
Sports
Disc sports, or disc games, are a category of activities which involve throwing and/or catching a flying disc. Participants of disc sports consistently use the "c" spelling when describing the sports equipment used in these activities, which includes team sports such as ultimate or individual sports such as disc golf. This is a parallel to the spelling of "discus," the flat and round weight thrown in the track and field sport discus throw.
References
- Barry Taylor (2008-03-12). "Test Records". Retrieved 2013-08-15.
- Oxford English Dictionary. Oxford University Press.
The earlier and better spelling is disk, but disc is now the more usual form in British English, except in sense 2g , where disk is commoner as a result of US influence.
- "What's the difference between a "disc" and a "disk?"". Apple Inc. Retrieved 2012-02-28.
- Paul Brians. "Common Errors in English". Washington State University. Archived from the original on 2002-06-13. Retrieved 2008-06-11.
- Iverson, Cheryl (2007), "11.1 Correct and Preferred Usage of Common Words and Phrases", AMA Manual of Style (10th ed.), Oxford, Oxfordshire: Oxford University Press, ISBN 9780683043518.