In literature, in Internet resources and just in everyday speech, the expression "Post factum" is sometimes found. But does everyone know exactly what it means? When is it appropriate to use it? Can this phrase be replaced with other words? Read more about this and more.
Post factum: value
Post factum (with emphasis on the second syllable) Ozhegov's Explanatory Dictionary of the Russian Language defines it as a persistent book expression, an adverb. Literally, it means "after something has been done, happened, happened."
This is a borrowed phrase. Post factum translation from Latin is: "after what happened".
It is mainly used in jurisprudence. From there, by the way, the expression passed into everyday speech. It is usually used in documents that deal with the arrangement, design of something after it has already been created in reality. A good example: someone was issued a permit to purchase after the fact. That is, he first bought, and then he was given permission to do so.
Post factum expression is quite appropriate to replace and morewords familiar to our ears:
- then;
- after;
- after everything;
- after;
- backdated.
Using an expression
However, in addition to legal documents, the post factum expression also fits into ordinary speech. This is clearly seen in several examples:
- Will you already notify me about this in advance, and not after the fact?
- He told me that in his days the discussions were after the fact, not three days before the exam.
- Is fighting crime really about reporting it after the fact, not preventing it?
- We learned the news after the fact, we didn't tell about it at the meeting.
- Why are you explaining this after the fact when it's no longer relevant?
- He stubbornly continues to respond to all my requests after the fact.
- Even Natasha's friends found out about her engagement to Danil after the fact.
- Yes, you did an examination, but you did it after the fact.
- It's better to say after the fact, not now.
- Unfortunately, all good ideas come after the fact, not when they are particularly relevant.
Don't be confused
Often we can see the expression "postscript". It is by no means an equivalent replacement after the fact.
Postscriptum (lat.) - "written after", "after what was said". The tradition of writing it comes from the depths of centuries, when people communicated betweenyourself through letters. As a rule, at the end of the message it was necessary to "take a bow" and put your signature. But it also happened that a person, having written a letter in full, recalled that he wanted to tell something else to the addressee. Then he was saved by the postscript P. S., which could also mean "after the signature." If the author was completely forgetful, then P. P. S. (after after signature) and even P. P. P. S. It is important to remember that the abbreviation "postscript" is not synonymous with the word "signature" itself. So the phrase "Masha, I love you. P. S. Vanya" will be incorrect.
More P. S. could be placed before writing information that is different from the topic of the main text. For example, the author writes a detailed story to a friend about how to properly care for apple trees. But then he suddenly remembers something that has nothing to do with gardening. And then: "P. S. What's your cat's name? I completely forgot."
In Runet, a seemingly completely illogical synonym for a postscript is sometimes used - "Z. Y." However, everything is explained simply - the Latin letters P and S are located on the Russian keyboard layout on the same keys as Z and Y.
What else is this?
What else can the words post factum mean? It is easy to construct a sentence with this expression if you know its meaning.
Surely many of you have found the first Soviet private news agency with this name. It existed between 1989 and 1996. IA "Postfactum" called itselfnon-governmental information and news service. Its creators, Vladimir Yakovlev (also the founder of Kommersant) and Gleb Pavlovsky (the future editor-in-chief of Vek XX i Mir), later said that this name originated in their minds only "in a state of alcoholic insensitivity", because it is a little strange to call the news service.
Despite such a statement, today this name is not the only one in the world of news and information. Printed publications called Post factum can be found in Pskov, Kharkov, Berezovsky. The final program on Radio Vesti, which discusses the results of the past week, also has the same name.
"Postfactum" is also a Russian adaptation of the title "The after" of an American science fiction series, throughout which a handful of young people try to survive in the harsh post-apocalyptic world of the future.
