Message text written by John Carmichael > in the case of sundials which use strings, cables, rods, or pipes, wouldn't the gnomon be the SAME as the style because the center of the whole shadow is used to tell time, and not just the edge?<
No, strictly speaking, it wouldn't be the same. The gnomon is that mechanical part of the dial that contains/embodies the shadow casting element. So if you are talking about the shadow casting device as a part of the dial it is the gnomon but if you are talking of that part of the shadow casting device which at any particular time is responsible for the time estimate that you are making then that part is the style at that time. >Should I refer to the cable of my sundials as a gnomon or style or both?< The cable of your sundials is the gnomon but the edge of the cable (or its centre or whatever part is responsible for the time estimate) is the style. >I've noticed that some people spell style as "stile". Which is the prefered spelling?< I prefer 'Style'; (a 'stile' to me is something I climb over to get into a field) but then as a Brit I have the weird habit of writing 'centre', 'colour', 'preferred',dialling' etc, etc <gg>. I think you use whatever you think your audience expects! Patrick
