This is a music notation, non-Dorico specific, inquiry.
I have seen plenty of different options, from “a2” with no space (which as an Italian I cannot stand since they are two words!), to using/non-using parentheses in following systems.
This last option is the one that is giving me more thought: personally, I use technical warnings (a 2, pizz., con sord.) the first time without parentheses and add a reminder in parentheses in the following systems (“(a 2)”, “(pizz.)”, “(c.s.)” or “(sord.)” or “(con sord.)”).
There are several publishers, though, that do not use parentheses for the reminders in new systems, and this is also the standard that Dorico is adopting.
Can someone explain the evolution of this practice and possibly motivate it?
Personally, when I see something not in parentheses, I interpret it as being the first instance of that warning.
Thank you for sharing your input!
3 Likes
I agree that there’s just no space for the no-space “a2,” etc. 
Incorrect. 
(Curious what publishers you’ve seen use that…)
And I’m instinctively inclined to be with you on parenthesizing courtesy reiterations of directions (as with many courtesy accidentals).
I just leafed through some Eulenberg and Boosey & Hawkes Stravinsky scores. Eulenberg re-states a 2 on each system, while B & H use (a 2) after the initial one.
1 Like
I was recently asked by a publisher (German-speaking broad area) to remove all parentheses. It doesn’t do too much damage for the “a 2”, honestly, but to me as a string player it does with “pizz.”
Granted, they would be gone in parts, but as a conductor I would find it odd—though I’m not a trained conductor so…
Agreed; more important to signal to performers whether a direction is new or continued to help avoid confusion or panic. (Though I might want to argue that as a member of the ensemble “performing it,” so to speak, it’s probably helpful to signal /remind the conductor whether the doubled/tripled/etc. passage has newly begun.)
But…when the publisher paying you to engrave says “out,” well — out ya go, parentheses!
1 Like
Of course 
!
I’m not really the one to protest anyone who gives clear instructions!
1 Like
Yet, everyone seems to be okay with the no-space etc., which is also an abbreviation of two words: et cetera.
1 Like
Because there are no native speakers left to protest 
4 Likes
Latin…??? Deader than Finale!
4 Likes
When the space is left out that just means it’s being used not as an abbreviation but as a symbol in and of itself.
Still … is there any classical music publisher (so, no jazz, pop, rock, …) that actively uses “a2” ?