Mic or Mike?

[David Mascellani]

Mike, Dammit (http://home.comcast.net/~sambayer/music/whymike.html)

[arthur_henry]

I'm for mike, too. I've always hated that it was spelled mic, which sounds like "mick".

[pr]

Mic, definitely.
Because, whereas 'mic' is actually short for microphone, mike strangely isn't. Although, I could be wrong.

But then, what about 'No.' being short for 'Number'? (As in telephone no.)

Hmm.

[Kristi]

Mike.

It's like reading poetry... all the line breaks and fancy fonts won't do a thing when it's spoken aloud.

[gecian]

Mike. But I hear "mic" used more often, and "mic" is obviously unEnglish, so I've taken to writing out "microphone".

[Porter Doran]

Mike is someone's name -- it won't do. Mic is obviously from mic., but without the period it is a brand-new word and must be judged on its own merits. It is unphonetic and with no legitimate excuse to be (such as foreign-language heritage). This dilemma demands some ingenious solution such as refrigerator found in fridge. What a laudable writer or editor or copy editor it was who first proffered us fridge!

[David Mascellani]

Originally posted by pr

But then, what about 'No.' being short for 'Number'? (As in telephone no.)

Hmm.

Like abbreviations such as "ca" "c.v.", "i.e." "e.g.", "etc." and "vs", "no" is an abbreviation of a non english word that is used in english.

I.e., 'no' is not short for 'number'. It is short for 'numero', the ablative (http://www.sil.org/linguistics/GlossaryOfLinguisticTerms/WhatIsAblativeCase.htm ) case of the Latin 'numerus'.

'No' then falls into that set of abbreviations which are formed
by taking a word's first and last letter:

Mister- Mr
Doctor-Dr
Street- St
Versus -Vs
Numero-No


David

[pr]

Thanks David, this is very informative
:)

[Marcus P]

Originally posted by Porter Doran
Mike is someone's name -- it won't do.

Hi,
Yes, 'Mike' is someone's name, but 'mike' isn't.
Just as 'Mark' is my name (when it's not Marcus!) and 'mark' isn't!

All the best,
Mark

[Harry R]

Originally posted by Porter Doran
Mike is someone's name -- it won't do.

Rose Jade Coral Bill Teddy Cliff Fanny Victor Iris Jasper Ivy Holly Frank Gene Jean Abigail Grace Charity Lane Faith Penny Willy Lee Sally Bud Rick Dean Kirk Deb Earl ...

Harry
I was thinking of entering the Tour de France, but I can't find where I put my bic.

[Porter Doran]

Well struck Mr. Rutherford. It will be a mike in my spelling from now on.

[Roge]

I like the simplicity of the bicycle - bike argument and so, mike it is by me from now on.

TTFN
Roge