Ceteris Paribus

[iLB]

I'm under pressure to remove this phrase from my dissertation, but I kindof like it.

 

[Norm]

"all other things being equal"?

 

[rikki]

In what field (of expertise, not paddock) are you giving this dissertation?

I know what it means, but will your audience?

 

[BrumJim]

Remember it from my economics A-level. Which isn't bad for a 40-year-old.

Bascially economics models the world in a way that is totally unrealistic in order to understand why people (and therefore prices and production) react in a certain way. Unfortunately no one has managed to stop the world long enough to try out the theories in a controlled manner.

 

[iLB]

In what field (of expertise, not paddock) are you giving this dissertation?

I know what it means, but will your audience?

palaeo glaciology, I would guess my professor would know what it means, and it does make sense in the context.

 

[ushills]

In what field (of expertise, not paddock) are you giving this dissertation?

I know what it means, but will your audience?

Agree, okay in legal / economic dissertation where the audiance will be aware of it's meaning or expected to be aware. Not sure about other fields?

 

[ASC1951]

I'm under pressure to remove this phrase from my dissertation, but I kindof like it.

Phrases like that are fine in a dissertation if they improve it i.e. your audience knows what it means and it is much shorter and neater in the original. Neither is true of 'ceteris paribus', so I would put it in English.

 

[iLB]

It sounds nicer than "Holding all other factors to be equal"

 

[ASC1951]

It sounds nicer than "Holding all other factors to be equal"

It does - but less wooden translations are available.

 

[srw]

It's a perfect term for almost all the situations in which I've used it - unlike "everything else being equal", which is clunky. It's also a nice example of how Latin can use the ablative absolute without a participle.

 

[psmiffy]

No - I read a lot of geological papers - the good and great dont use language of that sort - clarity is the most importent criteria

 

[dellzeqq]

it works best if you use mutatis mutandis in the same sentence

(now which box should I tick?)

 

[iLB]

the bottom one for sure

 

[iLB]

No - I read a lot of geological papers - the good and great dont use language of that sort - clarity is the most importent criteria

i do have clarity scribbled on just about every sheet of notes, the weight of evidence in one direction is irrefutable- i think it will have to go.

 

[Fnaar]

Gluteus maximus