The phrase "by names" is often misspelled as "by name's," but proper usage and grammar calls for the plural form without the apostrophe. The correct phonetic transcription of "by names" is /baɪ neɪmz/. The first syllable is pronounced like "buy," followed by the long "a" vowel sound in "name" and ending with the "z" sound for the plural. While it may seem simple, proper spelling and pronunciation can greatly impact clarity in communication.
"By names" typically refers to a method or approach adopted to categorize or organize objects, entities, or individuals based on their given names or appellations. It involves sorting, grouping, or identifying things using the names they have been designated with.
In the context of people, "by names" refers to individuals being referred to or recognized according to their given names or personal appellations. It signifies the practice of calling or addressing people by the names they are formally or informally known as, rather than any other criteria such as roles, titles, or familial relationships.
This concept can also extend to the classification or arrangement of objects or entities. For instance, in a catalog or inventory management system, items may be grouped "by names," indicating that they are organized based on their individual names or specific identifiers. In this case, each item is uniquely identified by its given name or assigned label, enabling ease of identification and retrieval.
The idea of sorting or categorizing "by names" can also apply in various domains, such as literature, where books or literary works may be arranged alphabetically by the author's name or the title of the work itself.
Overall, "by names" signifies a method of identification, categorization, or arrangement based on the individual names or designations assigned to objects, entities, or people.
The term by names or bynames has its origins in Old English. The word by in this context refers to secondary or additional, and names refers to the known labels or titles given to individuals. Therefore, by names or bynames essentially means secondary or additional names used to describe or identify a person. These bynames were typically added to a person's given name to differentiate them from others with the same or similar names within a community or social group. Over time, the term evolved and is still used today, often as nicknames or aliases.