stet
/stɛt/
Word Rarity
Very rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 1.83 in modern English
4
Scrabble Score
4
Letters
1
Syllables
3
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
A symbol used by proofreaders and typesetters to indicate that a word or phrase that was crossed out or changed should remain as it was.
noun
An order staying all proceedings in an action.
verb
To stay all proceedings in an action.
Example Sentences
- "I believe the word "stet" is unnecessary and confusing; that it is used only on the margin when something has has been crossed off in the body of the text and is also used only with the dots (the stet marks ........) placed under the words in the body of the matter to be stetted—or to let stand as they were."
- "But a typographer in far-off Australia would instantly comprehend the carets, "stets," and "deles" of a Brooklyn proof-reader."
- "By "editor" I suppose you mean proofreader. [...] I have also come across a few pompous avuncular brutes who would attempt to "make suggestions" which I countered with a thunderous "stet!""
- "[O]ne particular sub-editor […] would proof-read my book reviews and archly insert literally dozens of little commas – each one of which I felt as a dart in my flesh. […] I would thank her, glance at the blizzard of marks on the galley proof, wait for her to leave the room, and then (standing up to get a better run at it) attack the proof, feverishly crossing out everything she had added, and writing “STET”, “STET”, “STET”, “STET”, “STET” all down the page, until my arm got tired and I was spent."
- "And my copyeditors at HarperCollins want me to use the word “commodified” exclusively, since it’s the only one in Websters. But I see the words as very different, and have issued a big STET on that one."
- "("To be eligible for a stet, the defendant must waive his right to a speedy trial.") (stating that when a prosecutor "stets" a case, the state is declining to prosecute it"
Etymology
Origin
- Source language: Latin
Word Breakdown
- Root: stet
Usage
Inflected Forms
Phrases
stet docket
stet processus
Frequently Paired Words
stet docket
stet processus