I've always believed this to be a UK versus US English thing.

In the UK it is always Exhibition (made up of exhibits) whereas in the US I've almost always heard Exhibit used (even for art).

Trevor Reynolds, Registrar
English Heritage, 37 Tanner Row, York, YO1 6WP
+44 (0) 1904 601905
________________________________________
From: Museum discussion list [[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Jessica [[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 12 May 2011 03:32
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Lexicon question

Which word do you, as a museum professional, prefer? Exhibit, or exhibition? Does the terminology depend on the type of museum/cultural space? For example, I have had art history teachers tell me that the word is *never exhibit, while I have heard people from History museums and the Library and Special Collections world call just about anything an exhibit ...

Additionally, there are many digital platforms, designed to facilitate visually-pleasing and information-rich collections of images, that call such things exhibits (I'm thinking in particular of OMEKA).

My inner voice leans toward the word exhibition ... which feels like a word meaning means a collection of exhibits. But what do I know?

Anyone care to shed light on this predicament? Any particular preferences? Does the "correct" word vary according to surrounding space and/or friends?

JFT

--
But when the scant grass lies covered deep
     By the snow that lies like a pall,
Then the plaintive bawl of a hungry cow
     Is the loneliest sound of all!
--Vern Mortensen

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