The rules for when to use a long 's' or a short 's' were complicated. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long_s has this list, described as "not exhaustive":
A round s is always used at the end of a word ending with s: "his", "complains", "ſucceſs" However, long s is maintained in abbreviations such as "ſ." for "ſubſtantive" (substantive), and "Geneſ." for "Geneſis" (Genesis) Before an apostrophe (indicating an omitted letter), a round s is used: "us'd" and "clos'd" Before and after an f, a round s is used: "offset", "ſatisfaction." Before a breaking hyphen at the end of the line, a long s must be used: "Shaftſ-bury". (When hyphenation was not required, the word was spelled Shaftsbury, with a round s.[4]) In the 17th century, the round s was used before k and b: "ask", "husband"; in the 18th century: "aſk" and "huſband". Otherwise, long s is used: "ſong", "ſubſtitute".
6 comments:
That's a lot of prefuming you're doing there, pal. What do you think killed him dead?
Looks like the first reported instance of a sugar baby. I'm sure the whole 'quickie' thing is meant literally.
Why is there a common "s" in "propos'd" and "was," but not in "himfelf, "perfon," etc?
@Bicycle Rider:
The rules for when to use a long 's' or a short 's' were complicated. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long_s has this list, described as "not exhaustive":
A round s is always used at the end of a word ending with s: "his", "complains", "ſucceſs"
However, long s is maintained in abbreviations such as "ſ." for "ſubſtantive" (substantive), and "Geneſ." for "Geneſis" (Genesis)
Before an apostrophe (indicating an omitted letter), a round s is used: "us'd" and "clos'd"
Before and after an f, a round s is used: "offset", "ſatisfaction."
Before a breaking hyphen at the end of the line, a long s must be used: "Shaftſ-bury". (When hyphenation was not required, the word was spelled Shaftsbury, with a round s.[4])
In the 17th century, the round s was used before k and b: "ask", "husband"; in the 18th century: "aſk" and "huſband".
Otherwise, long s is used: "ſong", "ſubſtitute".
Thanks, Anonymous! Those rules are no doubt the reason why they got rid of the long s. Ain't nobody got time for that.
Yes a long complicated set of rules that very few know if he/she is right or not. LoL
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