Mutatis mutandis
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A direct translation from Latin of mutatis mutandis would read, 'with those things having been changed which need to be changed'. More colloquially, it can be interpreted as 'the necessary changes having been made,' where "the necessary changes" are usually implied by a prior statement assumed to be understood by the reader. It carries the connotation that the reader should pay attention to the corresponding differences between the current statement and a previous one, although they are analogous. This term is used frequently in economics and in law, to parameterize a statement with a new term, or note the application of an implied, mutually understood set of changes. The phrase is also used in the study of counter-factuals, wherein the requisite change in the factual basis of the past is made and the resulting causalities are followed.
Examples:
- "His cat" and "His dog" should be changed to "Her cat" and "Her dog", mutatis mutandis for pony, sheep and cow. [i.e. "His pony" becomes "Her pony," and so on.]
- What we said about oil goes mutatis mutandis for natural gas.
- The two parties finally signed the contract mutatis mutandis.
- 1982 Convention, ARTICLE 111: Section 2. The right of hot pursuit shall apply 'mutatis mutandis' to violations in the exclusive economic zone or on the continental shelf, including safety zones around continental shelf installations, of the laws and regulations of the coastal State applicable in accordance with this Convention to the exclusive economic zone or the continental shelf, including such safety zones.
Etymology:
- Both "mutatis" and "mutandis" come from the Latin verb "muto" (principle parts: muto, mutare, mutavi, mutatus), meaning "to change." "Mutatis" is the ablative plural neuter perfect passive participle used as a substantive (the neuter plural supplies the "things" in the translation--"with those things having been changed"), and "mutandis" is the ablative plural neuter gerundive (the gerundive supplies the idea of necessity in the translation--" which need to be changed"). The phrase is an ablative absolute construction, which is reflected by the "with" translation.
[edit] See also
- Ceteris paribus (other things being equal)
- List of Latin phrases
