stet

[ stet ]

verb (used without object)

, stet·ted, stet·ting.

1. let it stand (used imperatively as a direction on a printer's proof, manuscript, or the like, to retain material previously cancelled, usually accompanied by a row of dots under or beside the material).

verb (used with object)

, stet·ted, stet·ting.

1. to mark (a manuscript, printer's proof, etc.) with the word “stet” or with dots as a direction to let cancelled material remain.

stet

/ stɛt /

noun

1. a word or mark indicating that certain deleted typeset or written matter is to be retained Compare dele

verb

1. tr to mark (matter to be retained) with a stet

Word History and Origins

Origin of stet¹

1815–25; < Latin stēt, present subjunctive 3rd person singular of stāre to stand

Word History and Origins

Origin of stet¹

Latin, literally: let it stand

Example Sentences

But as long as you’re not committing the cardinal editorial sin of introducing new errors, all you can do is point out the existing ones and let the “stets” fall where they may.

From Washington Post

In his current case, court records show that Jefferies and prosecutors recently entered into a “stet agreement,” which typically signifies that charges will be dropped if a defendant meets certain conditions.

From Washington Post

One imagines that, after the last guest has left one of their glittering Sutton Place soirees, their pillow talk abounds in terms like “stet,” “transpose” and “delete.”

From New York Times

“It was a thin dress, burgundy in color. I wanted the reader to be aware of the thinness. So you are right. The copy editor probably marked out the comma, and I wrote stet.”

From The New Yorker

Stet, stet, v.t. to restore—generally on proof-sheets, in imperative, with a line of dots under the words to be retained.

From Project Gutenberg