In the Russian language there are many words that are not written exactly as they should from the point of view of formal logic. Let's look at one of these “illogical” verbal nouns. So, how to write: “numbering” or “numbering”? Why exactly and what does this word mean?
What is numbering?
Before sorting out the spelling of the term in question, it is worth learning about its lexical meaning.
This word is a set of methods for naming numbers using graphic symbols and writing them.
For example, in a train, each wagon is assigned a specific number. This is done so that it is easier for railway workers and passengers to find it among a dozen others.
It is worth considering the fact that numbering is not always done only with the help of numbers. Often, instead of them (or together with them), Latin and Greek letters or Cyrillic are used. For example, everyone is well aware of the phrase "plan B", which means the second version of something. However, in this case, instead of the number "two" use the letter "B".
Other meanings of the word “numbering”
Also, this verbal noun is used in mathematics as the name of the method of forming a countable set (it is infinite, since its elements can be numbered using natural numbers).
In addition, numbering refers to the ordering of any objects using numbers. This helps to quickly find the right items or persons who have been assigned a particular number.
For example, so that a person can easily find the building he needs on an unfamiliar street, around the world, houses are numbered in order. In this case, not only numbers are used, but also letters, as well as a fractional line (if we are talking about several cases).
Another example is the software situation. Both wildlife and computer programs do not stand still and are constantly evolving. As a rule, on the basis of a successful version of a particular software, newer and more advanced versions of it are created. In order not to confuse users, they are strictly numbered. And for this, integers, fractions, as well as Latin and Greek letters are used.
Etymology of the word "numbering"
Having understood the meaning of the studied term, it is worth learning about its origin.
Like most names associated with the exact sciences, the word "numbering" has come to modern languages from Latin. So initially the ancient Romans had the verb numero, which meant "to count." Subsequently, the noun numeratio was formed from him, by which the process of counting was called.
It is on the basis of this Latinism that the word "numbering" appeared in most European and Slavic languages. For example, in English it is the term numbering or numeration, in German - die Nummerierung, in French - le numérotage, in Polish - numeracja, in Ukrainian - "numbering", in Belarusian - "numaratsy". Interestingly, in the Bulgarian language this word is written through "o" - "numbering".
Most likely, this term came to Russian through the mediation of Polish, since in other European languages it looks somewhat different.
"Numbering" or "numbering": how to correctly and why
So, how do you spell the word in question? There is one definite answer to this question today: “numbering” and nothing else.
Linguists explain this spelling by the fact that the term is not derived from the word "number", but is borrowed from Latin, and its spelling is historical.
In fairness, it is worth noting that until the thirties of the twentieth century in the Russian language, both writing methods existed in parallel. So everyone could freely choose: numbering or numbering, and in any case was right. But later, the option "numbering" was abolished, so as not to create confusion.
One of the latest academic publications, where both writing methods were recorded, is Dmitry Nikolayevich Ushakov's Explanatory Dictionary of the Russian Language. In the explanatory dictionary of Ozhegov, only "numbering" is already mentioned, as in Evremov and in the Great Soviet Encyclopedia.
Numbering, Numbering and Numbering
Having considered the question “How to write and speak correctly: numbering or numbering?”, It is worth paying attention to the nouns “numbering” and “numbering” that are close to this word.
Being of the same root and close in value, they can also cause problems, because some (by analogy with the “numbering”) are able to write them as “numbering” and “numbering”. However, this is also unacceptable and is a mistake.
What is pagination?
Having found the answer to the question “How to write and speak correctly: numbering or numbering?”, It is time to consider the concept of “pagination” that is close to this word.
This is a specific publishing term. They are called sheet numbering in printed materials or in web design.
The page numbers in this case also have a special name - "columns". Usually they are placed at the bottom, top or side of the fields.
In most modern text editors, the user does not need to worry about how to paginate and where to start counting. In such programs, the ability to issue numbers at your discretion is already built-in. For example, in most versions of Microsoft Word, this function is usually located in the "Insert" tab.
Although, according to the rules of the Russian language, the word "numbering" is always written through "y", some by mistake (or out of habit) continue to use the option "numbering". Moreover, such spelling is sometimes found even in official documents. Therefore, in order not to get into trouble yourself, you should always remember that the second letter in the nouns “numbering”, “numbering” and “numbering” will absolutely always be “y”.