Pre-overdue

I've recently started getting 'PreOverdue' emails from my local library (I notice from an internet search that other libraries, both in the UK and in North America, spell it 'pre-overdue'). The word seemed incongruous to me at first, given that 'pre' means 'before' (a certain date, in this instance), and 'over' means 'beyond' (a certain time or age) -- so, two opposites together. I suppose it makes sense -- readers are being told that their books are not yet overdue, but will be in two or three days. Now that you do everything by computer in most libraries - check books out, return them, order them - and you can renew and order from your home computer, too, you never actually come into contact with a member of staff, so fines just mount up and remain unpaid. I suppose that that is behind the 'PreOverdue' policy.

 

Interestingly, there is not a single word in the massive OED that begins 'preover...' or 'pre-over...'.

 

I wrote a post on Pre words, including pre-order and pre-drink, a couple of years ago (here).

Comments

[Picky]

I think the word should be justunderoverdue.

[Marc Leavitt]

Susan:
I thin their hearts are in the right place, but while latinate prefixes may work, they aren't always best. They should take a page from the advertising book and do what magazine circulation departments do: send out one of those "Don't miss out on maintaining a hefty bank balance; your book will be overdue on (date)" notices, or words to that effect.

[Virtual Linguist]

Good ideas from both of you! Thanks.

[Picky]

Actually, "nearly due" would seem to fit the bill.

[Virtual Linguist]

Thanks, Picky. Overdue is perhaps more emotive -- makes you think of a fine to pay! Perhaps that's the idea.