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Straightening Things Out: The Use of Strait and Straight in the Book of Mormon

TitleStraightening Things Out: The Use of Strait and Straight in the Book of Mormon
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2003
AuthorsHoskisson, Paul Y.
JournalJournal of Book of Mormon Studies
Volume12
Issue2
Pagination58-71, 114-117
KeywordsLanguage - Hebrew; Original Manuscript of the Book of Mormon; Poetry; Printer's Manuscript of the Book of Mormon; Spelling; Straight; Strait; Translation
Abstract

Confusion between the use of strait and straight existed in Joseph Smith’s day and continues to persist today. This confusion is manifest in the spelling of the term in the original manuscript (strait preserved in 10 of 11 existing occurrences), the printer’s manuscript (all 27 instances spelled strait), and the 1830 edition (in which the compositor changed all 27 instances to straight). Through close examination of meanings, comparison to Hebrew words and usage, and analysis of poetic form, Hoskisson examines each instance of strai(gh)t in the Book of Mormon and recommends a spelling for each one.

URLhttps://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/jbms/vol12/iss2/7