Turn of the century
Turn of the century, in its broadest sense, refers to the transition from one century to another. The term is most often used to indicate a non-specific time period either before or after the beginning of a century.
Where no specific century is stated, the term usually refers (when encountered in literature written throughout most of the 20th century and even, so far, through till the early 21st) to the transition from the 19th century into the 20th century (1890–1914): thus, e.g., a novel referring to "turn of the century England" indicates England, circa 1900.
According to the Chicago Manual of Style, there is no common agreement as to the phrase "turn of the n-th century." For instance, if a statement describes an event as taking place "at the turn of the 18th century," it could refer to a period around the year 1700 or one around the year 1800. As such, they recommend using only "turn of the century," and only in a context that makes clear which transition is meant.[1]
The period around the turn of the 1st century of a millennium can also be called the "turn of the millennium." For example, the period 1981–2020 can be described both as the "turn of the 21st century" and the "turn of the third millennium."
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ "Chicago Style Q&A: Numbers". The Chicago Manual of Style Online. http://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/CMS_FAQ/Numbers/Numbers13.html. Retrieved 2011-01-11.
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