Question: Is it "Tone Arm" or is it "Tonearm"?


I've seen it spelled both ways, (although mostly I've seen it as "Tonearm" in most Audiophile applications, which is how I typically write it). My Word program prefers it spelled "Tone Arm", when it comes to the spell check though.

What say you?
kurt_tank

Showing 3 responses by kennythekey

Spell checkers may have made us soft, as they don't recognize many proper words. This probably led to the rise of Tone Arm. However, it's always been Tonearm.
Hey Kurt,

Actually, it was not referred to as a Tone Arm back then, so this was the writers' modern interpretation. In the Victrola Owner's Manual this was referred to as the Taper Tube and Sound Box. See: http://www.victor-victrola.com/Instructions.htm
My wife is an Editor of thirty five years. Her reference is Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (The Book). The definition is:

Tonearm: the movable part of a phonograph or record player that carries the pickup and permits the needle to follow the record groove.

Thank goodness for simplicity and the classically educated!