Why is it that special celebrations occur on anniversaries and birthdays that end with a zero or a five? I’m not saying that this is bad practice; I just always wondered why every five years rather than, let’s say, every two years.
So, this year, in the midst of the buzz of the nation’s 250th Fourth of July celebration, I did a little research. It turns out that some combination of ancient Roman observations, Latin terms, mathematic convenience and a country’s cultural factors shape when a year is considered a milestone or a landmark.
Like cultural expectations for when to throw a bigger celebration, there are conventions in writing that can seem a little random, and just like cultural expectations, there is history behind those conventions.
New university students venture into new genres and find different conventions and expectations that they learn first as “just the way things are done.”
Observing and using conventions comes first. Learning the reason behind the conventions and embracing or challenging them comes later, as the student deepens their knowledge of that specific profession, field of study and their position in it. What might seem random becomes significant and richer the more a student learns about the reasons behind the convention.
This Fourth of July, I hope you put on your patriotic gear and celebrate your freedom. Then, consider spending some time diving into the history behind the celebration. Milestones are worth celebrating whether they end in five or zero or not, but maybe these significant ones can move us to pursue a deeper understanding.
Happy Fourth of July from the Waynesburg University Writing Center!
