Talk:Foolscap folio

in Canada in the 80s?
I remember foolscap paper being referred to often in school in the 80s in Canada - it referred to slightly longer paper but also a lower quality paper for drafts (ie closer to newsprint quality).

Size in metric
Just looking at the sizes stated, given that 1 inch = 25.4 mm, wouldn't the following be more accurate (to the nearest millimetre)?

8½ × 13½ inches (216 × 342 mm) -> 216 × 343 mm

17 x 13½ inches (432 × 342 mm) -> 432 × 343 mm

Given 25.4 mm/inch × 13.5 inches = 342.9 mm (which rounds to 343 mm, not 342 mm)

I'll change it and let you pick over all 0.1 mm of it :) Mattabat 07:51, 11 February 2007 (UTC)


 * Since these are defined values why not give exact conversions? J IM ptalk·cont 03:46, 2 December 2009 (UTC)

More widespread use in USA
Can someone expand on the assertion: "Recently it has met more widespread use in some circles in the United States". Which circles? When? --Theo (Talk) 00:28, 28 Feb 2005 (UTC)

ring binders
Should we mention that it is a common size for ring binders/lever arch files containing A4 paper, because it offers greater protection to the edge of the pages than an A4 binder? Thryduulf 08:29, 28 Feb 2005 (UTC)
 * Yes, we should, so I have! Be bold in updating pages --Theo (Talk) 10:37, 28 Feb 2005 (UTC)


 * How is it better? That is in no way clear...Empaler 02:04, 27 November 2006 (UTC)

Uh...
There has been some confusion somewhere. The paper size that we Brazilians variously name "Folio" or "Oficio II" is 8 1/2 x 13 inches, not 8 1/2 x 13 1/2. Luis Dantas 22:54, 18 Mar 2005 (UTC)

bitching about "Legal" being the proper name in respect to a different country and language is at least impolite.


 * Seeing as it is a different size and also not referred to as "Foolscap", I think the Brazilian Oficio is out of place here. Corwin.amber (talk) 11:16, 22 June 2018 (UTC)

Blue Book
There should be a refence to "Blue Books" that many students use on tests that are made from these sheets.

Legalese
I came here looking for the definition in terms of the legal writing community. My impression is that the foolscap folio is used to bind smaller sheets of a legal document such as a pleading or a complaint or a motion. It is usually blue and imprinted with the author's name at the binding edge and the case caption on the back. Does anyone have corroboration or additional insight into this use of the word?

The size of paper was actually used to make caps to wear in class rooms as a punishment to naughty boys. There after when the printing machine was invented and the same size of paper was used for printing. The word fool's cap was used as an identification to the size — Preceding unsigned comment added by 116.72.57.202 (talk) 06:40, 22 August 2011 (UTC)


 * Nonsense! You try making a paper hat out of a sheet of foolscap and see how well it fits on a head! The originak;l Victorian foolscap paper had a watermark in the shape of a jester's hat. You can see some examples here: [] Stub Mandrel (talk) 20:27, 5 March 2016 (UTC)

"For Normal"?
This sentence: `(for "normal" writing paper, 13 × 8 in (330 × 200 mm))`, does not in fact say anything and just contributes to the overall confusion in this article. What is "normal" paper? Is 13 × 8 a variant of Foolscap? Why is it even mentioned? Corwin.amber (talk) 11:20, 22 June 2018 (UTC)


 * 'Normal' as in to be used for writing or typing letters compared with paper that was to be used for 'printing'. Given that printing was generally not widely carried out at a domestic/office level until the late 1980's, this would have been commercial printing, or so I presume. 92.8.133.167 (talk) 18:12, 9 February 2023 (UTC)
 * I would imagine printers would use full size foolscap folio and then trim after folding and binding (or not, leaving the reader to cut each page with a paper knife), whereas letter paper was sold pre-trimmed to 13 x 8.
 * Possibly the printers' size had (traditionally) irregular edges, whereas writing paper was nicely trimmed similarly to how timber was traditionally sold. A length of, say, 3"x2" rough sawn timber has actual dimensions of 3"x2", whereas 3"x2" planed all round timber might have actual dimensions of 2¾" x 1⅞" as it was planed from a 3"x2" actual dimensions length of rough sawn as a second process.
 * It would be interesting to hear this confirmed or negated by someone with actual experience in commercial printing.92.8.133.167 (talk) 18:24, 9 February 2023 (UTC)