I have been using it as if it meant “cross-reference,” as synonym for “see.” But as I discovered in CMS when looking up something else entirely (as is usually the case in such things): “[use] cf. only to mean ‘compare’ or ‘see, by way of comparison.’”
I have been using cf. for many years, correctly, it seems, but I just got it from copying my parents. I used their books quite a bit in college and acquired the same habit of penciling notes in the margins.
god, how I hate the Chicago manual
by Scott—Feb 9, 03:26 PM
No way! It’s brilliant. It has teh answrz for EVERYTHING.
by greg—Feb 9, 03:42 PM
akshully, it doesn’t!
by kl—Feb 9, 04:25 PM
Yeah, what she said. I just hate having to learn a new form of anything. And I can never keep the bibliography, notes and references stuff straight.
by Scott—Feb 10, 02:11 PM
Don’t become a reference librarian, lazy.
by greg—Feb 10, 02:18 PM
But how, pray tell, have you been using cf.?
by laura—Feb 13, 09:43 PM
I have been using it as if it meant “cross-reference,” as synonym for “see.” But as I discovered in CMS when looking up something else entirely (as is usually the case in such things): “[use] cf. only to mean ‘compare’ or ‘see, by way of comparison.’”
by greg—Feb 14, 12:07 AM
I have been using cf. for many years, correctly, it seems, but I just got it from copying my parents. I used their books quite a bit in college and acquired the same habit of penciling notes in the margins.
by laura—Feb 14, 12:05 PM