A poll! A poll!

[zanzjan]

[Poll #2050989]

Yes, this is trying to settle a point of pedantry. (Is there no greater cause?!) Assume for the exercise that the context is that you are an educational professional providing parents with a shopping list for start of school.

Thanks! :)

Comments

to be really precise...

[rolandgsl.livejournal.com]

...it would be either a "Ring Binder" or "Three Ring Notebook." Without the "three ring" modifier, it implies a spiral bound.

In general, I don't hear shorter versions because we have gonepaperless here and don't use either. It then becomes "it's in the e-room I don't have access to" or "let me email you a copy, it's probably out of date."

Re: to be really precise...

[zanzjan.livejournal.com]

Doesn't need to be that precise. Mostly I'm trying to determine if there's a legitimate regional variation in whether this would be called a notebook or a binder.

3-ring binder

[tim boudreau (from livejournal.com)]

I don't think I'd ever just use the term "binder" by itself - it would be "3-ring binder".

I couldn't actually figure out how to participate in the poll, BTW (maybe after I log in to post here?).

Re: to be really precise...

[tim boudreau (from livejournal.com)]

Notebook has become overloaded as a way of referring to laptops, so I'd expect "binder" to be even more likely.

[ritaxis.livejournal.com]

I took the DARE survey and I came up with this result (interchangeable) for a surprising number of the questions--even pronunciation. For me "notebook" is an inclusive term, "binder" is a more specific term, and "three ring binder" exists to be even more specific. (there are those binders made with metal clips, but they are not the default kind)

Californians just grow up with too many choices I guess.

[seawasp]

I would also SPECIFY the number of rings, which I can't tell from the photo (three-ring (elven kings) or five rings (hobbits) are the most common).

[nycshelly.livejournal.com]

A factor to consider might be one's age/generation. We called them looseleaf binders (didn't usually specify how many rings unless that was relevant, as in asking for them in a store to make sure I got the ones I wanted), but over time, I just shortened it to looseleafs. I think most of my classmates called them simply looseleafs, too. A notebook was/is more typically bound, either stitched, glued, or with wire coils.

[zanzjan.livejournal.com]

As a bit of explanation, I have a friend who got a list of supplies from her kids' new school that listed "notebook", intending a 3-ring binder, and when she bought the wrong thing they made a point of blaming it on her being ESL and declaring that everyone here (US) calls them notebooks. I was feeling rather offended on her behalf, and was trying to get a few quick stats to see if it was a legit regional thing versus pure boneheadedness on the part of the school.