How correctly to speak and write: numbering or numbering?

In the Russian language there are many words that are written not quite as they should be from the point of view of formal logic. Let's look at one such "illogical" verbal nouns. So, how to write correctly: "numbering" or "numbering"? Why and what does this word mean in general?

What is the numbering of numbers

Before you deal with the spelling of the term in question, it is worth learning about its lexical meaning.

This word is called the combination of methods for naming numbers using graphic symbols and writing them.

For example, in the train, each car is given a certain number. This is done in order to make it easier for railway workers and passengers to find it among a dozen others.

It is necessary to take into account 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 alphabet are used. For example, the word "plan B" is well known to everyone, which means the second version of something. However, in this case, instead of the figure "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 with the help of natural numbers).

In addition, the numbering is called the ordering of any objects using numbers. This helps to quickly find the necessary items or persons to whom this or that number was assigned.

For example, in order for a person to easily find the building he needs on an unfamiliar street, in the whole world the houses are numbered in order. It uses not only numbers, but also letters, as well as a fractional line (if it is a question of several buildings).

Another example is the situation with the software. Both wildlife and computer programs do not stand still and are constantly evolving. As a rule, based on a successful version of certain software, its newer and more advanced versions 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.

The etymology of the word "numbering"

Having understood the meaning of the term being studied, it is worthwhile to learn about its origin.

Like most names associated with exact sciences, the word "numbering" came in modern languages from Latin. So initially the ancient Romans had a verb numero, which meant "count". Subsequently, from him was formed the noun numeratio, which was called the process of counting.

It was on the basis of this Latinism that the word "numbering" appeared in most European and Slavic languages. For example, in English this is the term numbering or numeration, in German - die Nummerierung, in French - le numérotage, in Polish - numeracja, in Ukrainian - "numbering", in Belarusian - "numerarcia". It is interesting that in the Bulgarian language this word is written through "o" - "numbering".

Most likely, in Russian this term came through Polish mediation, because in other European languages it looks a bit different.

"Numbering" or "numbering": how right and why

So, how to correctly write the word in question? To this question, today there is one unequivocal answer: "numbering" and nothing else.

Linguists explain this spelling by the fact that the term is not formed from the word "number", but is borrowed from Latin, and its writing is historical.

For the sake of justice, it should be noted that until the thirties of the twentieth century, both ways of writing existed in the Russian language. 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 last academic publications, where both ways of writing were recorded, is "The Explanatory Dictionary of the Russian Language" by Dmitry Nikolayevich Ushakov. In the explanatory dictionary of Ozhegov, only "numbering" is already mentioned, as in Evremov and the Great Soviet Encyclopedia.

Numbering, numbering and numbering

Having considered the question "How correctly to write and say: numbering or numbering?", It is worth paying attention to the nouns "numbering" and "numbering" that are close to this word.

Being single root and close in meaning, they can also cause problems, because some (by analogy with "numbering") are able to write them as "numbering" and "number." However, this is also unacceptable and is a mistake.

What is "pagination"

Having found the answer to the question "How to write and say correctly: numbering or numbering?", It's time to consider the term "pagination", which is close to this word.

This is a specific publishing term. They are called the numbering of sheets in printed products or in web design.

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 number the pages and which one to start the account with. In such programs, it is already possible to issue numbers at their own discretion. For example, in most versions of Microsoft Word, this feature is usually found 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 habit) continue to use the "numbering" option. Moreover, such writing sometimes occurs even in official documents. Therefore, to avoid getting trapped, it's always worth remembering that the second letter in the nouns "numbering", "numbering" and "numbering" will always be "y".