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Apologies if this is off-topic, but we're having a problem over on English Language with this question, and I thought you guys might be able to help.

Basically it's a matter of topology. We know the word chirality, for distinguishing between two things that are either identical in all respects, or differ only in their left/righthandedness.

Is it meaningful in mathematics/theoretical physics to distinguish between "inside-outness" and "outside-outness" in the same way? If so, is there a word analogous to chirality to convey that distinction?

I ask here because I know there is debate about the "shape" of the space-time continuum (which I don't fully understand), so it seems at least possible to me that some hypothetical frameworks which are mathematically describable might actually be verbalised using a word such as we seek.

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    From a comment the OP on the other site wanted 'to say "what is the ____ of your socks?" and get inside-out or right-side-out as the answer, but the context it formal and technical so inside-out-ness sounds silly.' which is a distinction that topologists and many geometers don't make. I don't think the sought-after-word would be found in the *mathematical* literature.2011-09-08

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