Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Cantab or Cant

It's 2011 and let me start off the year by shedding a bit of light on pretentious abbreviations after people's names, in particular, the abbreviation 'Cantab'. The University of Cambridge is the second oldest university in England and one of the most prestigious university in existence. Hence, for the toffee-nosed graduates of this university a business card or letterhead may have the following after their names. E.g. Mark Chew BA (Hons)(Leeds), MA (Cantab).

That's fine. However, being a graduate of the University of Canterbury from New Zealand, I find it rather amusing when fellow alumni use the Cantab after their qualifications. This may be out of ignorance. It Should be Cant. (NB: This in no way suggests that the University of Canterbury is inferior).

Degrees from The University of Kent (formerly the University of Kent at Canterbury) are followed by the abbreviation 'Cantuar', e.g. B.Sc (Cantuar). The abbreviation for Oxford degrees is 'Oxon', e.g. MA (Oxon).