The spelling of the word "seventies" may seem straightforward, but it can be tricky for non-native English speakers. The IPA phonetic transcription for "seventies" is /ˈsɛvəntiz/, which shows that the first syllable is pronounced as "sev" with a short "e" sound, followed by a schwa sound in the second syllable. The "-ties" ending is pronounced with a long "e" sound and a voiced "z" at the end. So, "seventies" is spelled with an "e" and not an "a" as some may assume, and it's important to remember the pronunciation of the suffix "-ties".
Seventies, referring to the decade from 1970 to 1979, is a noun that denotes a period of ten years within the larger timeline of the modern Gregorian calendar. The term is derived from the cardinal number "seventy," which signifies the quantity seven tens or seven times ten. As a standalone term, it typically refers to the 1970s decade, known for its cultural, political, and societal landmarks.
The seventies witnessed significant changes and movements across the globe. This period saw the rise of disco music, the sexual revolution, and the beginning of punk rock. Politically, countries experienced events like the Watergate scandal in the United States, the end of the Vietnam War, and the emergence of new leaders and ideologies. Additionally, the seventies marked progress in various fields, such as technology and cinema, with the advent of personal computers and iconic movies like Star Wars.
From a fashion standpoint, the seventies introduced unique styles, including bell-bottom pants, platform shoes, and colorful patterns. Socially, it was a time of increased activism and advocacy for civil rights, women's rights, and environmental issues. With the emergence of countercultures and social movements, the seventies became a decade of both reflection and rebellion.
Therefore, the term "seventies" encapsulates the essence of a specific period in history, offering a glimpse into the cultural, political, and societal transformations that occurred during the 1970s.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "seventies" derives from the cardinal number "seventy", which is formed from the Old English word "seofontig". In Old English, "seofon" meant "seven", and "-tig" denoted a multiple of ten (equivalent to the "-ty" in modern English). Over time, "seventy" evolved into "seventies" to refer to the period from 1970 to 1979.