3 ms·
> if all the letters i and J are not dotted, the pharmacist may be in doubt as to the number intended. Oh, is that where "dot the i's and cross the t's" comes
by qznc 2y ago
> if all the letters i and J are not dotted, the pharmacist may be in doubt as to the number intended.
Oh, is that where "dot the i's and cross the t's" comes from? I can imagine that saying being hammered into many medical practitioners back then.
- amenhotep 2y agoPretty sure that's just a derivation from everyday handwriting. The i-dots and t-crosses are two typical elements that can't be written without lifting the pen, so it's quite a frequent thing to put pen to paper, write out a word that includes i and t but leave them unfinished so you can continue the rest of the letters in one fluid motion, then go back and finish them off by dotting and crossing them. Hence dotting is and crossing ts is going back to do final touches that you've neglected or may have missed while working quickly or casually.
- ahazred8ta 2y agoWe also have jot and tittle, from yod(י) and titulus(ʹ). Likewise 'not one iota'.