Apostrophe crimes

[Glenn E.]

We are attempting to resolve the vexed question of whether mathematical notation should be used, as a form of punctuation, on these pages.

Would you prefer

Code: Select all

code?

Mathematical notation is clear and concise. Unlike, say, English.

[djewesbury]

4389737161578947262558955962.

Sorry, just had to get that off my chest.

[PhilW]

We are attempting to resolve the vexed question of whether mathematical notation should be used,...

And I say; Never! Never! Never!

It would have been quicker to say "Never! *3"
Many have already shown an intermittent preference for mathematic expression in place of english for brevity/clarity by the number of "+1" posts on the forum.

[PhilW]

I agree with Daniel and Owen, purely on the basis that the Mathamatists didn't show their working out.

Mathematist? Is that even a word?
Mathematician, surely?

[PhilW]

4389737161578947262558955962.

Sorry, just had to get that off my chest.

Big, but is it clever?
Or is it your credit card number, account and PIN number - free port orders for all?

[djewesbury]

I agree with Daniel and Owen, purely on the basis that the Mathamatists didn't show their working out.

Mathematist? Is that even a word?
Mathematician, surely?

We refuse to recognise that word. Mathamatists (please, could you use Derek's original, correct spelling?) is the actual proper name for what it is that you are.

[LGTrotter]

We are attempting to resolve the vexed question of whether mathematical notation should be used,...

And I say; Never! Never! Never!

It would have been quicker to say "Never! *3"
Many have already shown an intermittent preference for mathematic expression in place of english for brevity/clarity by the number of "+1" posts on the forum.

Firstly; Ian Paisley would not have put it like that. Never!

Secondly; thank you for the opportunity to chastise all those on this site too weary or unimaginative to show agreement by anything else than those accursed +1s. Yes only one more keystroke, a whole sentence scarcely eats into the day too much. I deplore the use of +1 and am glad to have got that off my chest. But I think I too may have used it on occasion and accept it is here to stay.

[jdaw1]

thank you for the opportunity to chastise all those on this site too weary or unimaginative to show agreement by anything else than those accursed +1s. Yes only one more keystroke, a whole sentence scarcely eats into the day too much. I deplore the use of +1 and am glad to have got that off my chest.

+1.

[DRT]

thank you for the opportunity to chastise all those on this site too weary or unimaginative to show agreement by anything else than those accursed +1s. Yes only one more keystroke, a whole sentence scarcely eats into the day too much. I deplore the use of +1 and am glad to have got that off my chest.

+1.

+1¹



Note to Tapatalk users: that is one to the power of one, not eleven.

[djewesbury]

thank you for the opportunity to chastise all those on this site too weary or unimaginative to show agreement by anything else than those accursed +1s. Yes only one more keystroke, a whole sentence scarcely eats into the day too much. I deplore the use of +1 and am glad to have got that off my chest.

+1.

+1¹



Note to Tapatalk users: that is one to the power of one, not eleven.

+110101

[PhilW]

+110101

So close; if only you had put +110001, since 110001 is the ASCII binary value for the character '1'. Yours would mean +5.

[djewesbury]

:dies:

[DRT]

:dies:

Actually, you should feel pleased that you got it almost exactly correct.

[Glenn E.]

:dies:

Actually, you should feel pleased that you got it almost exactly correct.

[DRT]

In Dublin...



Sorry about the glare but I couldn't find an angle to avoid it.

[flash_uk]

Initial reports from Chesterfield suggest that John's Pork Pie will not see the end of tomorrow. Whispered conversations in pubs in North Derbyshire speak of a pie the size of a hay bail that makes any man who eats one more attractive to young Maidens. Local butchers are dismissing the phenomenon as "hokum".

Or is that hay bales?

[DRT]

[DISAPPOINTED FACE]

[djewesbury]

The 20th century was the period between January 1, 1901[1] and December 31, 2000,[2][3] inclusive. It was the tenth and last century of the 2nd millennium. It is distinct from the century known as the 1900s, which began on January 1, 1900 and ended December 31, 2000.

Now that is silly.

[jdaw1]

Some posts moved to Rounding: wording and algorithm.

[DRT]

{smugness}

[djewesbury]

Where did my post about Derek's heinous misspelling of Wikipedia go?

[DRT]

Where did my post about Derek's heinous misspelling of Wikipedia go?

Too late. It was swept away in a flurry of exponential mathematical contemplation. Schrodinger would probably tell us it might or might not have happened. We will never know.

[djewesbury]

You recidivist.

[DRT]

You recidivist.

Did I do it again?

[DRT]

Andy: thank you for the warning

[djewesbury]

The 1985 Taylor done more justice to my Man-Flu than I did to the 1985 Taylor.

[jdaw1]

Is the following acceptable?

the astronomical hoi polloi

Can terms change type when used as a single compound noun in a language different to the original? Is there a consensus opinion?

[djewesbury]

No. We don't speak Greek.

[DRT]

No. We don't speak Greek.

Speak for yourself.

[djewesbury]

Ok. Notwithstanding. You want Julian to correct your Greek? Step right up, you're more of a sucker than I thought!

[jdaw1]

No. We don't speak Greek.

These two sentences contradict.

I think I agree with the latter. We don’t speak Greek. Hence “hoi polloi” is, in this context, a compound English noun, albeit of foreign origin. That is my preference. In which case DRT’s phrasing was acceptable, because of the change of type “when used as a single compound noun in a language different to the original”. So my first two questions should have been answered in the affirmative.

Is the following acceptable? … Can terms change type when used as a single compound noun in a language different to the original?

DRT is Not Guilty.


In 1988 I used “hoi polloi”, verbally, in the same way as Derek, and was ‘praised’ for “resisting the temptation to show off a classical education” (by the man in the middle of this picture). It was one of the most charming criticisms I had ever heard.

[djewesbury]

No. We don't speak Greek.

These two sentences contradict.

I think I agree with the latter. We don’t speak Greek. Hence “hoi polloi” is, in this context, a compound English noun, albeit of foreign origin. That is my preference. In which case DRT’s phrasing was acceptable, because of the change of type “when used as a single compound noun in a language different to the original”. So my first two questions should have been answered in the affirmative.

Is the following acceptable? … Can terms change type when used as a single compound noun in a language different to the original?

DRT is Not Guilty.

The involuntary gasps of relief, from those huddled in quiet reverence in the public gallery, are like thunderclaps in this hushed amphitheatre. A woman gasps, faints. An old man allows a tear to roll down his cheek. There will be Christmas after all.
All rise.

[jdaw1]

There will be Christmas after all.

I’m with the Grinch on that one.

(Also, I edited as DJ posted.)

[DRT]

DRT is Not Guilty.

Is this random use of capital letters permissible?

[djewesbury]

Would you prefer drt?
Sorry. Facetious. Unlike everything else here.

[jdaw1]

DRT is Not Guilty.

Is this random use of capital letters permissible?

I had intended to convey the emphasis of a jury’s foreman announcing the result, and wanting it heard clearly.

Maybe that was too much information to squeeze into two upper-case letters.

[LGTrotter]

"How do you find the accused?"
"Not guilty! Upon mine honour!"

Done as a two-hander it has more gravitas.

[djewesbury]

I'm not certain that gravitas is what it has...

[djewesbury]

Does anybody know of an exemption applicable in this case? If not, Andy V is one of our most dedicated reciidivists in the area of egregious crimes against the languge. It looks like a Derek-style example may need to be made.

In speaking to my dry wine loving friends there is issues with similar period wines from France and the USA.

What info do you based that theory on?

But trust me, or ignore me if you so chose, there was serious chinanigans going on back during that time period and the wine trade put significant pressure on them to clean things up.

[jdaw1]

Andy V. is a fine fellow in many ways, but a lost cause to the English language. He is also a policeman in Los Angeles, which might affect whether you wish to insult him.

[LGTrotter]

Boo-hiss! Down with pedantry! I'm for Andy on this one.

[djewesbury]

I do not insult him. I merely ask that he give the poor, long-suffering English language a fighting chance.

[LGTrotter]

I think he meant me.

[Andy Velebil]

Drats, and I was doing so good avoiding being listed here.

[jdaw1]

Drats, and I was doing so good avoiding being listed here.

I had given up on you, deeming English to be your second language — you not having a first language.

But the Deputy Sheriffs are now watching you: behave!

[PhilW]

Andy V is one of our most dedicated reciidivists in the area of egregious crimes against the languge. It looks like a Derek-style example may need to be made.

Glass houses? Egregious spelling errors.

[djewesbury]

Andy V is one of our most dedicated reciidivists in the area of egregious crimes against the languge. It looks like a Derek-style example may need to be made.

Glass houses? Egregious spelling errors.

Watch it son.

[PhilW]

Andy V is one of our most dedicated reciidivists in the area of egregious crimes against the languge. It looks like a Derek-style example may need to be made.

Glass houses? Egregious spelling errors.

Watch it son.

Hah! You're the one with daedal involute examens of others, I just spotted a typo (or two, in the same sentence).
I'll keep watching, as requested, Dad

[djewesbury]

[djewesbury]

I suppose in the 18th century they were more relaxed about these things.