Semantics - 'WW2', or 'WWII' ?

Discussion in 'Historiography' started by von Poop, May 1, 2010.

?

Which abbreviation do you use?

  1. WW2

    7.5%
  2. WWII

    57.5%
  3. Either

    34.9%
  1. Fred Wilson

    Fred Wilson Member

    Theodore "Dutch" Van Kirk - fact or fiction...

    I swear I saw him saying on U tube saying that the ww eleven teacher thing happened. Can't find it of course.

    But this is one chap I've paid over and over again to sit in on his talks. What a guy. Enjoy.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uOs-V4pFsJc

    More - remove the space...
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v= 8r1DnUxAAMM
    PBS: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v= qSyrLvQq89E
     
  2. von Poop

    von Poop Adaministrator Admin

  3. Sheldrake

    Sheldrake All over the place....

    The official British terminology is the Second World War and First World War, which replaced the term Great War once we had a second. These are the terms used by the official historians, Historic England, Imperial War Museum, Commonwealth War Graves Commission and the National Archive. The BBC uses a mixture of Second World War and WWII. The UK's Veterans agency refers to World War 2

    We had an educational adviser in the Royal British Legion who was really annoyed by any reference to WW1 and WW2 and would go through any handouts correcting these terms.
     
  4. Dave55

    Dave55 Atlanta, USA

  5. Ramiles

    Ramiles Researching 9th Lancers, 24th L and SRY

    I've tried to use "Second World World" in preference to WW2, but if you want to write something like... 2ndWW ... WW2 seems preferable - at least to that.

    World War Eleven too, as mentioned...



    Seems eventually possible one day :-(
     
    Dave55 likes this.
  6. Station J

    Station J Member

    If handwritten, I like WWII because the Roman numerals are clear. Very few fonts are that way. Thus typed I much prefer WW2.

    If written out, I prefer World War Two.

    I dislike the terminology First or Second World War, because the First World War and the first world war aren't necessarily the same war. (Seven Years War and American Revolution are often described as world wars due to fighting in Europe, Americas, and India).
     
  7. TTH

    TTH Senior Member

    What was it called while it was going on?
     
    CL1 likes this.
  8. 4jonboy

    4jonboy Daughter of a 56 Recce

    I'm not sure but I think it was commonly known as "The War".
     
    pete, TTH and CL1 like this.
  9. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

    During the war


    upload_2023-8-1_21-21-53.png
     

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