Nuts and Bolts: lipography

 A lipogram (as opposed to lipography) is a piece of writing where one or more letters or other symbols has been deliberately left out.

A whole novel, for example, has been written without the use of the letter E. It's called Gadsby, came out in 1939, and is by Ernest Vincent Wright. No, I don't know why he wrote it. I don't honestly know why anyone would want to read it, either. It must be ingenious, though.

Anyway, lipography is something different, because that's where a letter or syllable is left out by accident.

We will all regularly come across (and sometimes provide ourselves) examples of lipography. 

My ant gave me a scar for my birthday.

I've a novelist's eye for an elegant stye.

He sang happily as he tiled the field.

Still, now we can attach a posh word to it, can't we.

Thing To Spot Today: lipography. This word is Ancient Geek. It comes from the word leipein, to omit, and graphein, which is to do with writing.