Full stop is just the British English version of period. It took me a while to figure out what period meant in that context in American English. Period generally refers to menstruation in British English.
Period generally refers to menstruation in British English.
I’ve heard people say this more than once, and each time I always want to say “Come on!” That particular meaning (which of course is just as well known in American English) is nothing but a derivative of the principal meaning of “period” (in all English-speaking countries), which is “length of time” or more generally “interval”—which also gives rise to the American usage referring to the punctuation mark, as sentences are in some sense regular units of discourse.
Growing up in England I picked up from American TV and movies that saying ‘period’ at the end of a sentence was a way of emphasizing a statement. I picked up the meaning from context but didn’t understand the derivation as ‘period’ had only two salient meanings for me: an interval or menstruation. As a teenager in high school at the time the latter was probably the strongest association. At some point I discovered that ‘period’ in American English meant ‘full stop’ and suddenly the phrase made perfect sense (since in British English we use ‘full stop’ in the same sense, though it’s a somewhat less common phrase).
All the meanings share a fairly obvious association in retrospect. I maintain that for most British English speakers however (at least those my age or older who weren’t as steeped in American culture as younger Brits might be) the word period is much more strongly associated with menstruation than with punctuation, even being aware of the latter meaning.
I maintain that for most British English speakers however… the word period is much more strongly associated with menstruation than with punctuation, even being aware of the latter meaning.
Oh, that’s undoubtedly true; the punctuation usage is definitely an Americanism. My point was that the most salient meaning is (or certainly ought to be) the general one of “interval”. (I’ve never seen a British mathematician wince when discussing the period of the sine function.)
the punctuation usage is definitely an Americanism
According to various online sources, the first written usage of “period” to mean “dot at the end of a sentence” was in 1609. I can’t find mention of a source, but I find it hard to believe it’s American. I’ve been unable to find an origin for “full stop”—some sites try to link it to the telegraph, but inconsistently mention that “full stop” was not used instead of “stop” since it would cost more.
ETA: found the 1609 reference. John Davies) - poem here—grep for “but thy nailes”
Well, a number of modern-day Americanisms aren’t American in origin, but rather are the result of the usage in question having become obsolete in Britain. Standard examples include “sick” for “ill” and “fall” for “autumn” (“mad” for “angry” might also be one, though I’m not sure).
The same phenomenon occurs in other widely-distributed languages, notably Portuguese, where in some respects Brazilian usage resembles the old-fashioned language of Portugal more than the modern language of Portugal does.
The word “Americanism” seems to imply that it’s some crazy thing the Americans have decided to do, against all sense, as opposed to continuing to use the language in the same fashion it’s been used for hundreds of years. For example, I’ve heard “Authorise is the correct spelling; Americans just spell it ‘authorize’ because they like to be different” despite the British “authorise” being the common spelling for only about a century and the OED still recommending “authorize”.
-ize is something else, but most american spellings (not usage) really are the abrupt decision of Noah Webster. He was a nationalist and the theory that he was trying to create an american identity is poorly-attested but not insane.
Interesting. The meaning from “full stop” translates well enough into American English, but it dodged the insta-reaction associated with “period.” It sounds like it doesn’t fair as well the other way, however. “Period” translates poorly into British English.
It now seems likely that using “full stop” has a more innocent purpose than just dodging icky feelings. Good to know, thanks for the tip. :)
Yeah, along the same lines: whenever I saw British speakers write “[X is true.] Full stop.”, I assumed the metaphor referred to a ship making a “full stop”, not a period. But at least the meaning comes across correctly! British speakers seeing “period” aren’t so lucky! :-P
In case you are wondering, the term “full stop” harks back to telegrams:
The term STOP was used in telegrams in place of the period. The end of a sentence would be marked by STOP, because punctuation cost extra. The end of the entire telegram would be noted by FULL STOP.
How full stop became associated with the punctuation used to end sentences is beyond my knowledge. The wikilink doesn’t seem to have that info either.
Yes… take down a telegram, Bob. To Mr. Charlie Chaplin, Sennet Studios, Hollywood, California. Congrats stop. Have found only person in world less funny than you stop. Name Baldrick stop. Signed E. Blackadder stop. Oh, and put a P.S.: please, please, please stop.
British speakers seeing “period” aren’t so lucky! :-P
Well, except for the fact that we all learn to speak much of your language. Not all—baseball and American football (what you call “football”) metaphors or references to your sports stars are still pretty opaque!
Full stop is just the British English version of period. It took me a while to figure out what period meant in that context in American English. Period generally refers to menstruation in British English.
I’ve heard people say this more than once, and each time I always want to say “Come on!” That particular meaning (which of course is just as well known in American English) is nothing but a derivative of the principal meaning of “period” (in all English-speaking countries), which is “length of time” or more generally “interval”—which also gives rise to the American usage referring to the punctuation mark, as sentences are in some sense regular units of discourse.
Growing up in England I picked up from American TV and movies that saying ‘period’ at the end of a sentence was a way of emphasizing a statement. I picked up the meaning from context but didn’t understand the derivation as ‘period’ had only two salient meanings for me: an interval or menstruation. As a teenager in high school at the time the latter was probably the strongest association. At some point I discovered that ‘period’ in American English meant ‘full stop’ and suddenly the phrase made perfect sense (since in British English we use ‘full stop’ in the same sense, though it’s a somewhat less common phrase).
All the meanings share a fairly obvious association in retrospect. I maintain that for most British English speakers however (at least those my age or older who weren’t as steeped in American culture as younger Brits might be) the word period is much more strongly associated with menstruation than with punctuation, even being aware of the latter meaning.
Oh, that’s undoubtedly true; the punctuation usage is definitely an Americanism. My point was that the most salient meaning is (or certainly ought to be) the general one of “interval”. (I’ve never seen a British mathematician wince when discussing the period of the sine function.)
According to various online sources, the first written usage of “period” to mean “dot at the end of a sentence” was in 1609. I can’t find mention of a source, but I find it hard to believe it’s American. I’ve been unable to find an origin for “full stop”—some sites try to link it to the telegraph, but inconsistently mention that “full stop” was not used instead of “stop” since it would cost more.
ETA: found the 1609 reference. John Davies) - poem here—grep for “but thy nailes”
Well, a number of modern-day Americanisms aren’t American in origin, but rather are the result of the usage in question having become obsolete in Britain. Standard examples include “sick” for “ill” and “fall” for “autumn” (“mad” for “angry” might also be one, though I’m not sure).
The same phenomenon occurs in other widely-distributed languages, notably Portuguese, where in some respects Brazilian usage resembles the old-fashioned language of Portugal more than the modern language of Portugal does.
The word “Americanism” seems to imply that it’s some crazy thing the Americans have decided to do, against all sense, as opposed to continuing to use the language in the same fashion it’s been used for hundreds of years. For example, I’ve heard “Authorise is the correct spelling; Americans just spell it ‘authorize’ because they like to be different” despite the British “authorise” being the common spelling for only about a century and the OED still recommending “authorize”.
-ize is something else, but most american spellings (not usage) really are the abrupt decision of Noah Webster. He was a nationalist and the theory that he was trying to create an american identity is poorly-attested but not insane.
Interesting. The meaning from “full stop” translates well enough into American English, but it dodged the insta-reaction associated with “period.” It sounds like it doesn’t fair as well the other way, however. “Period” translates poorly into British English.
It now seems likely that using “full stop” has a more innocent purpose than just dodging icky feelings. Good to know, thanks for the tip. :)
Yeah, along the same lines: whenever I saw British speakers write “[X is true.] Full stop.”, I assumed the metaphor referred to a ship making a “full stop”, not a period. But at least the meaning comes across correctly! British speakers seeing “period” aren’t so lucky! :-P
In case you are wondering, the term “full stop” harks back to telegrams:
How full stop became associated with the punctuation used to end sentences is beyond my knowledge. The wikilink doesn’t seem to have that info either.
Leading to the classic Blackadder line:
ROFL! I love that guy...
Well, except for the fact that we all learn to speak much of your language. Not all—baseball and American football (what you call “football”) metaphors or references to your sports stars are still pretty opaque!
Nothing like cricket references are to us. Good lord...
As a Canadian, neither expression ever elicited unintended imagery for me, so this conversation has been doubly enlightening.