Pain in the English
Pain in the English

Unpacking English, Bit by Bit

A community for questioning, nitpicking, and debating the quirks and rules of the English language.

Pain in the English
Pain in the English

Unpacking English, Bit by Bit

A community for questioning, nitpicking, and debating the quirks and rules of the English language.

Username

iluminatus93

Member Since

October 10, 2010

Total number of comments

1

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0

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Latest Comments

Title vs. Entitle

  • October 10, 2010, 2:50pm

A number of the question's responses confuse the verbal usage of "entitled" with the adjectival usage of entitle, referring to a "just claim to recieve or do something."

Its seems the verbal usage of the words are very similar. The definition, according to the OED, of the verbal usage of "title" is

"give a name to (a book, composition, or other work)".

The word originally denoted a placard or inscription placed on an object.

The definition of the verbal usage of "entitle" is

"give (something, especially a text or work of art) a particular title"

and, archaically,

"give (someone) a specified title expressing their rank, office, or character".

It seems, technically, "title" is in reference to an object, and "entitle" is in reference to a person. However, in modern usage, the definition of the words is it the same; "entitle refers specifically, if we assume writing is an art, to art, including literature, painting, sculpting, music, and dancing.