J. B. S. Haldane

1 9.1

A Scottish scientist who studied genes and how species change and helped make science popular

proper noun

: J. B. S. Haldane

J. B. S. Haldane made significant contributions to the field of population genetics.

Examples

The writings of J. B. S. Haldane helped popularize science for the general public.
As a Marxist scientist, J. B. S. Haldane often spoke on the social impact of scientific research.
J. B. S. Haldane was a brilliant scientist.
I admire J. B. S. Haldane for his contributions to science!
J. B. S. Haldane made significant contributions to the field of population genetics.
The writings of J. B. S. Haldane helped popularize science for the general public.
As a Marxist scientist, J. B. S. Haldane often spoke on the social impact of scientific research.

Surface Forms

J. B. S. Haldane main

Morphology

J. + B. + S. + Haldane

This is a personal name (a proper noun). Knowing the constituent initials and the surname does not allow a B1 learner to infer the biographical information or the meaning/identity associated with the name; initials are arbitrary and names are language- and culture-specific facts that require prior exposure. Therefore the expression is not compositionally interpretable from its parts.

Etymology

J. B. S. Haldane was a Scottish scientist who used math to study genes and how species change. He wrote clear, lively essays and books for ordinary people, so people remember him as someone who helped make 'genetics' and 'evolution' easier to understand.