f.
The abbreviation f. stands for “following” or is now explained as such, but it is actually an originally folk etymological reinterpretation of the originally neo-Latin abbreviations for folio ( ablative of folium ) “on the (next) side”, which were used internationally in the Middle Ages . Their plural is formed by doubling and written as ff . This doubling was already common with this and other neo-Latin abbreviations.
The abbreviation usually comes after a page number , year , in legal texts also after the specification of a paragraph or article . It means that the author refers to several consecutive pages, paragraphs or years - for example, when providing evidence of a quotation . The information "Page 40 f." Corresponds exactly to the information "Page 40 and 41" or "Page 40–41", ie it relates to exactly two pages. The indication "Page 40 ff." Means the same as "Page 40 and at least pages 41 and 42, possibly other subsequent pages", ie refers to a total of at least three pages.
While in older scientific publications, in which in some cases lower demands were made on the accuracy of evidence, the specification by means of "ff." Was common (along with other outdated evidence such as "aa O." or "op. Cit") their use u. a. in the humanities today mostly discouraged. Instead, it is usually recommended to specify the exact extent of pages, paragraphs, dates, etc.: instead of “cf. P. 139 ff. " B. "cf. Pp. 139-145 ".
According to Duden, there is a number between number and f. or ff. a space and a point after the abbreviations . In the book typography for a traditionally narrow spaces used. In electronic word processing , a protected space must be used to prevent line breaks at this unsuitable point. In scientific practice, in which sources are cited by means of f. occur frequently, one finds the use of f. and ff. also without spaces and without abbreviation.
Many people also explain the abbreviation ff. As an abbreviation for “subsequent”, but this word cannot be found in any dictionary, as it appears to be only used to explain this originally neo-Latin abbreviation in terms of folklore. H. was invented. A doubling of the final letter to indicate the plural of the abbreviated word was common with neo-Latin abbreviations and is also quite common with German. Other examples are Jgg. For “ Years ”, Mss. For “ Manuscripts ”, cett. for " cetera ", §§ for paragraphs or sqq. for " sequentia ".
Individual evidence
- ↑ following . In: duden .de , accessed on May 26, 2014.
