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Whenever you have any manner of formal proceeding, whether it be a city council meeting or a meeting of the Wire-haired Chihuahua Fanciers of Taylor County, there is usually a recording clerk or secretary who takes minutes as part of a durable record of the meeting. To show that the minutes describe the meeting agenda as they actually happened, in chronological order, the phrase "respectively submitted" usually precedes the name of the secretary. This might be a slightly archaic term, but it stems from the literal meaning of the word "respective:" in the order stated. So in saying that the minutes are "respectively submitted," the secretary is saying that the order of the minutes reflects the order of business. It has nothing to do with verbal courtesy or attitudinal humility.
I often see bids from contractors, engineer's reports and other documents come into meetings that end with the closing "respectfully submitted." While I think that this may have evolved as an eggcorn from "respectively submitted," I suppose it has by now become canonized as it's own idiosyncratic expression — a misconception that has been put to good use.
On the other side of the aisle, I'm also starting to see the closing "respectively submitted" where only "respectfully submitted" would make sense. It seems there are a number of people who either don't understand the literal logic of "respectively submitted" or believe that the two are interchangeable, or are entirely unaware that there are two different expressions to begin with. Maybe there should be only one: respectively submitted.
What do you the rest of you think? Do you accept the legitimacy of "respectfully submitted," or is it just a misbegotten pleasantry?
You put me in mind of a Lazarus Long quote:
Honorifics and formal politeness provide lubrication where people rub together. Often the very young, the untraveled, the naive, the unsophisticated deplore these formalities as empty, meaningless or dishonest and scorn to use them. No matter how pure their motives, they thereby throw sand into machinery that doesn't work too well at best.
So I'm disinclined to call it "misbegotten"—except, I suppose, in the most literal sense—because I think any such pleasantry is nice to have around even if its users are mistaken about its provenance.
Heaven knows there's a general lack of civility and respect for others in society these days. I'll take it where I can find it! I was taught to call men "sir" and women "m'am", and I'm constantly amazed at how many people almost seem to take offense at my use of those words.
With sincerest regards,
B
Sir: Your words, carrying the cloak both of civility, and equally of wisdom, do cause me to admire the intellect and illumination of thought that must have given them birth. I make so bold as to voice the prayer that their author will visit us again, and will deign to share whatever understanding with us that you may see fit so to do at that time. Until that happy day I remain, sir, your most humble and ob't servant.
Bob Bridges said:
Sir: Your words, carrying the cloak both of civility, and equally of wisdom, do cause me to admire the intellect and illumination of thought that must have given them birth. I make so bold as to voice the prayer that their author will visit us again, and will deign to share whatever understanding with us that you may see fit so to do at that time. Until that happy day I remain, sir, your most humble and ob't servant.
Ha, ha!!!
Martha Barnette
Grant Barrett
Grant Barrett
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