Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!cmcl2!floyd!vax135!ariel!hou5f!hou5a!hou5d!hogpc!houxm!ihnp4!stolaf!umn-cs!minn-ua!jlw From: jlw@minn-ua.UUCP Newsgroups: net.micro Subject: Re: Spelling and usage - (nf) Message-ID: <364@minn-ua.UUCP> Date: Sat, 18-Jun-83 07:03:01 EDT Article-I.D.: minn-ua.364 Posted: Sat Jun 18 07:03:01 1983 Date-Received: Wed, 22-Jun-83 12:35:12 EDT Lines: 54 #R:sri-arpa:-210600:minn-ua:6500001:000:1526 minn-ua!jlw Jun 17 23:05:00 1983 ***** minn-ua:net.micro / sri-arpa!UUCP / 10:55 pm Jun 13, 1983 . . . any person to know, programmer or not, is their native tongue (e.g., ^^^^^ number (should be "his") usage: should be "i.e." ^^^^ English). Written and verbal communication is a skill that can always number (should be "are skills") ^^^^^^^^^^ be improved. Clear and accurate communication, whether to people or to computers, requires clear thinking. Poor language indicates a ^^^^^^^^ number (should be "require") . . . ---------- Semantics. To wit: Written communication and verbal communication are skills that can always be improved. BUT Communication that is both written and verbal is a skill that can always be improved. Likewise: Clear communication and accurate communication require clear thinking. BUT Commumincation that is both clear and accurate requires clear thinking. In the original, I presume that the intent of the first instance is of the plural form, and the second is singular. The use of "their" is yet another attempt to solidify its position as a genderless pronoun. Someday popular usage may render it correct. Substituting "i.e." for "e.g." implies that if one is a programmer then one's maternal tongue is English. Leaving "e.g." permits one's maternal tongue to be French, Russian, Chinese, or whatever. Yours in parlance, Jeff Woolsey University of Minnesota Computer Center ...ihnp4!stolaf!umn-cs!minn-ua!jlw