continuity of parks

When it originated in the late 19th century, this word referred to the biological study of living organisms and their environment {comparative ecology}. By natural extension during the mid-20th century, the word came to refer to the interaction itself, as opposed to its study {the ecology of Church Street}. By still further extension -- a slipshod extension -- the word sometimes takes on the sense of the environment itself. When that is true, "environment" is a better word -- e.g.:


• "Hundreds of Puerto Ricans demanded an end to bombing exercises that they say are harming the island's ecology [read 'environment'] and its residents' health." Andrew Jacobs, "Protests Intensify in Puerto Rico as Navy Resumes Bombing Drills," N.Y. Times, 28 Apr. 2001, at A1.


• "Winning scant mention during Saturday's ceremonies was the concern that foreign organisms that attached to the bottom of the new dry dock during its journey from China could damage Maine's coastal ecology [read 'environment']." Ted Cohen, "BIW Unveils Its New, $240 Million Dry Dock," Maine Sunday Telegram, 6 May 2001, at B1.
"Ecology" was formerly spelled with an initial digraph, two letters forming a single sound (and, with "ae" and "oe," written as a single character): "oecology." It is so listed in the first edition of the Oxford English Dictionary.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Quotation of the Day: "The higher usages of literary English exacted in the school are in perpetual conflict with the barbarisms of the swarming illiterate outside. The teacher of English, at least in the great majority of our city public schools, is involved in unceasing warfare with these retarding forces." Percival Chubb, The Teaching of English 9 (1902).