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From: adams@uiucdcs.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.micro
Subject: Re: Spelling and usage - (nf)
Message-ID: <2245@uiucdcs.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 16-Jun-83 04:28:58 EDT
Article-I.D.: uiucdcs.2245
Posted: Thu Jun 16 04:28:58 1983
Date-Received: Sat, 18-Jun-83 22:02:35 EDT
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#R:sri-arpa:-210600:uiucdcs:10400069:000:2328
uiucdcs!adams    Jun 16 00:41:00 1983

I also agree with the sentiment.  I believe, also, that Jim is wrong in three
of his assertions.  I have numbered my concerns.  Arguments follow.

   ***** uiucdcs:net.micro / sri-arpa!jim@rand-unix / 10:55 pm  Jun 13, 1983
   I also agree with the sentiment.  I'm guessing that this recent submission
   on the subject was intended as a test, so here's my attempted solution:
   
       I agree with Charlie Strom.  This single most important language for
                                    ^^^^ wrong word (should be "The")
       any person to know, programmer or not, is their native tongue (e.g.,
                                                 ^^^^^ number (should be "his")
(1)                                           usage: should be "i.e." ^^^^
       English).  Written and verbal communication is a skill that can always
(2)                number (should be "are skills") ^^^^^^^^^^
       be improved.  Clear and accurate communication, whether to people
       or to computers, requires clear thinking.  Poor language indicates a
(3)                     ^^^^^^^^ number (should be "require")
       lack of attention to detail -- a potentially disastrous trait in a
       programmer.  Enough said.
                    ^^^^^^^^^^^ incomplete sentence, but common usage, so o.k.
                           Eliot
                           ^^^^^ spelling (should be Elliot) (just kidding)
   
   I didn't catch anything real in the last two sentences.  What did I miss?
   
                   Jim
   ----------
(1) e.g., exempli gratia, [L.], for the sake of example; for example.
    i.e., id est, [L.], that is.

    I believe the author here uses English for the sake of example.
    Clearly there are "native tounges" other than English.
(2) The number of "communication" is singular.  "Written" and "verbal" are 
    merely adjective modifying the subject.  Therefore, "is" is of the correct
    number.
(3) Again, "communication" is the subject.  The subject is singular.
    "Requires" is correct.

The source for my definitions is "Webster's New World Dictionary of the 
American Language", College Edition.

Robert H. Adams
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