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  3. Usage of english grammar. [modified]

Usage of english grammar. [modified]

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  • S Offline
    S Offline
    Sreenath Madyastha
    wrote on last edited by
    #1

    Technical people, often known to be poor in english grammar. Proper usage of verb, adverb, adjectives, semicolon, comma separation etc., Even, I dont remember english rules while writing a document. I write what is appropriate and easy to understand. Can anybody out here highlight how important it is ? Thanks, Sreenath -- modified at 11:09 Tuesday 17th October, 2006

    M S R J C 12 Replies Last reply
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    • S Sreenath Madyastha

      Technical people, often known to be poor in english grammar. Proper usage of verb, adverb, adjectives, semicolon, comma separation etc., Even, I dont remember english rules while writing a document. I write what is appropriate and easy to understand. Can anybody out here highlight how important it is ? Thanks, Sreenath -- modified at 11:09 Tuesday 17th October, 2006

      M Offline
      M Offline
      Marc Clifton
      wrote on last edited by
      #2

      Sreenath Madyastha wrote:

      Can any "gurus" out here highlight how important it is ?

      Not that I'm a guru, but I think basic sentence structure (ever try reading a translation of a Chinese instruction manual?) and proper spelling is important (and no, I think "colour" or "gray" is just fine--or is the less used one "grey"?). It definitely should be appropriate and easy to understand. Why for the life of me people don't put their documentation into MS Word and have it grammar and spell check the text, well, it's beyond me. Of course, I wrote some pretty butchered sentences above. Marc

      Thyme In The Country

      People are just notoriously impossible. --DavidCrow
      There's NO excuse for not commenting your code. -- John Simmons / outlaw programmer
      People who say that they will refactor their code later to make it "good" don't understand refactoring, nor the art and craft of programming. -- Josh Smith

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      • M Marc Clifton

        Sreenath Madyastha wrote:

        Can any "gurus" out here highlight how important it is ?

        Not that I'm a guru, but I think basic sentence structure (ever try reading a translation of a Chinese instruction manual?) and proper spelling is important (and no, I think "colour" or "gray" is just fine--or is the less used one "grey"?). It definitely should be appropriate and easy to understand. Why for the life of me people don't put their documentation into MS Word and have it grammar and spell check the text, well, it's beyond me. Of course, I wrote some pretty butchered sentences above. Marc

        Thyme In The Country

        People are just notoriously impossible. --DavidCrow
        There's NO excuse for not commenting your code. -- John Simmons / outlaw programmer
        People who say that they will refactor their code later to make it "good" don't understand refactoring, nor the art and craft of programming. -- Josh Smith

        C Offline
        C Offline
        Christian Graus
        wrote on last edited by
        #3

        Marc Clifton wrote:

        and no, I think "colour" or "gray" is just fine

        What could possibly be wrong with knowing how to spell ?

        Christian Graus - Microsoft MVP - C++ Metal Musings - Rex and my new metal blog

        M 1 Reply Last reply
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        • S Sreenath Madyastha

          Technical people, often known to be poor in english grammar. Proper usage of verb, adverb, adjectives, semicolon, comma separation etc., Even, I dont remember english rules while writing a document. I write what is appropriate and easy to understand. Can anybody out here highlight how important it is ? Thanks, Sreenath -- modified at 11:09 Tuesday 17th October, 2006

          S Offline
          S Offline
          Shog9 0
          wrote on last edited by
          #4

          Sreenath Madyastha wrote:

          Technical people, often known to be poor in english grammar. Proper usage of verb, adverb, adjectives, semicolon, comma separation etc.,

          Technically-minded people (or, perhaps more precisely, computer programmers) are known to often use poor grammar: improper usage of words (casting a noun as a verb, etc.), misuse of punctuation (overuse or incorrect usage of semicolons, improper placement of commas, etc.) and poor sentence structure. ok... now i'm off to get my first cup of coffee for the day. If those dern masons mess with my head and make this all look like gibberish again.... :mad:

          every night, i kneel at the foot of my bed and thank the Great Overseeing Politicians for protecting my freedoms by reducing their number, as if they were deer in a state park. -- Chris Losinger, Online Poker Players?

          M A S E 4 Replies Last reply
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          • S Sreenath Madyastha

            Technical people, often known to be poor in english grammar. Proper usage of verb, adverb, adjectives, semicolon, comma separation etc., Even, I dont remember english rules while writing a document. I write what is appropriate and easy to understand. Can anybody out here highlight how important it is ? Thanks, Sreenath -- modified at 11:09 Tuesday 17th October, 2006

            R Offline
            R Offline
            Red Stateler
            wrote on last edited by
            #5

            u shood use good grammer cause it makes u look smart

            T 1 Reply Last reply
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            • C Christian Graus

              Marc Clifton wrote:

              and no, I think "colour" or "gray" is just fine

              What could possibly be wrong with knowing how to spell ?

              Christian Graus - Microsoft MVP - C++ Metal Musings - Rex and my new metal blog

              M Offline
              M Offline
              Marc Clifton
              wrote on last edited by
              #6

              Christian Graus wrote:

              What could possibly be wrong with knowing how to spell ?

              :laugh: Marc

              Thyme In The Country

              People are just notoriously impossible. --DavidCrow
              There's NO excuse for not commenting your code. -- John Simmons / outlaw programmer
              People who say that they will refactor their code later to make it "good" don't understand refactoring, nor the art and craft of programming. -- Josh Smith

              1 Reply Last reply
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              • S Shog9 0

                Sreenath Madyastha wrote:

                Technical people, often known to be poor in english grammar. Proper usage of verb, adverb, adjectives, semicolon, comma separation etc.,

                Technically-minded people (or, perhaps more precisely, computer programmers) are known to often use poor grammar: improper usage of words (casting a noun as a verb, etc.), misuse of punctuation (overuse or incorrect usage of semicolons, improper placement of commas, etc.) and poor sentence structure. ok... now i'm off to get my first cup of coffee for the day. If those dern masons mess with my head and make this all look like gibberish again.... :mad:

                every night, i kneel at the foot of my bed and thank the Great Overseeing Politicians for protecting my freedoms by reducing their number, as if they were deer in a state park. -- Chris Losinger, Online Poker Players?

                M Offline
                M Offline
                Marc Clifton
                wrote on last edited by
                #7

                Shog9 wrote:

                Technically-minded people (or, perhaps more precisely, computer programmers) are known to often use poor grammar: improper usage of words (casting a noun as a verb, etc.), misuse of punctuation (overuse or incorrect usage of semicolons, improper placement of commas, etc.) and poor sentence structure.

                A see code that looks like this too. Bad casting, misuse of objects, poor class structure... ;P Marc

                Thyme In The Country

                People are just notoriously impossible. --DavidCrow
                There's NO excuse for not commenting your code. -- John Simmons / outlaw programmer
                People who say that they will refactor their code later to make it "good" don't understand refactoring, nor the art and craft of programming. -- Josh Smith

                W 1 Reply Last reply
                0
                • S Sreenath Madyastha

                  Technical people, often known to be poor in english grammar. Proper usage of verb, adverb, adjectives, semicolon, comma separation etc., Even, I dont remember english rules while writing a document. I write what is appropriate and easy to understand. Can anybody out here highlight how important it is ? Thanks, Sreenath -- modified at 11:09 Tuesday 17th October, 2006

                  J Offline
                  J Offline
                  James R Twine
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #8

                  Sreenath Madyastha wrote:

                  Can anybody out here highlight how important it is ?

                  Depends on what you are writing or speaking about.  If you are writing English technical documentation, or English comments in source code, or English used in the prompts and/or static text in an application, or speaking at a conference, it is pretty damn important.    Just as people use appearance as an initial indicator, they tend to do the same with how someone speaks and/or writes.  That whole "first impression" thing, 'ya know.    I think that punctuation is less important than the wording of the content, but that is just my opinion.    Not too much difference between:

                  The selected file is locked, possibly by another desktop application.
                  Please close any applications that may be using the file and try again.

                  And:

                  The selected file is locked possibly by another desktop application
                  please close any applications that may be using the file and try again.

                  Not exactly correct, but it gets the point across.  But there is one between:

                  Please select the order showing the alert and click [Resolve] to clear it.

                  And:

                  Please to click resolve on alerting order

                  Or:

                  Resolve your order indicated alert

                  Peace!

                  -=- James


                  If you think it costs a lot to do it right, just wait until you find out how much it costs to do it wrong!
                  Avoid driving a vehicle taller than you and remember that Professional Driver on Closed Course does not mean your Dumb Ass on a Public Road!
                  DeleteFXPFiles & CheckFavorites (Please rate this post!)

                  T 1 Reply Last reply
                  0
                  • S Sreenath Madyastha

                    Technical people, often known to be poor in english grammar. Proper usage of verb, adverb, adjectives, semicolon, comma separation etc., Even, I dont remember english rules while writing a document. I write what is appropriate and easy to understand. Can anybody out here highlight how important it is ? Thanks, Sreenath -- modified at 11:09 Tuesday 17th October, 2006

                    C Offline
                    C Offline
                    Colin Angus Mackay
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #9

                    It is very important to be able to communicate effectively.


                    Upcoming Scottish Developers events: * UK Security Evangelists On Tour (2nd November, Edinburgh) * Developer Day Scotland: are you interested in speaking or attending? My: Website | Blog

                    1 Reply Last reply
                    0
                    • S Sreenath Madyastha

                      Technical people, often known to be poor in english grammar. Proper usage of verb, adverb, adjectives, semicolon, comma separation etc., Even, I dont remember english rules while writing a document. I write what is appropriate and easy to understand. Can anybody out here highlight how important it is ? Thanks, Sreenath -- modified at 11:09 Tuesday 17th October, 2006

                      D Offline
                      D Offline
                      David Crow
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #10

                      Sreenath Madyastha wrote:

                      I write what is appropriate and easy to understand.

                      Which means what, exactly?

                      Sreenath Madyastha wrote:

                      Can anybody out here highlight how important it is ?

                      I consider it very important. I'm not going to write legal-ese, but I will put in what is necessary. If the target audience is unable to read it, tough.


                      "Approved Workmen Are Not Ashamed" - 2 Timothy 2:15

                      "Judge not by the eye but by the heart." - Native American Proverb

                      C S 2 Replies Last reply
                      0
                      • S Sreenath Madyastha

                        Technical people, often known to be poor in english grammar. Proper usage of verb, adverb, adjectives, semicolon, comma separation etc., Even, I dont remember english rules while writing a document. I write what is appropriate and easy to understand. Can anybody out here highlight how important it is ? Thanks, Sreenath -- modified at 11:09 Tuesday 17th October, 2006

                        C Offline
                        C Offline
                        Colin Angus Mackay
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #11

                        Sreenath Madyastha wrote:

                        Technical people, often known to be poor in english grammar.

                        The sentence is incorrectly structured. The comma should be replaced with "are".

                        Sreenath Madyastha wrote:

                        Proper usage of verb, adverb, adjectives, semicolon, comma separation etc.,

                        This paragraph ends without a sentence termination marker (full-stop). There is a comma at the end of the paragraph. There is a verb missing.

                        Sreenath Madyastha wrote:

                        Even, I dont remember english rules while writing a document.

                        The comma is unexpected. There is a missing apostrophe in "don't". There is incorrect capitalisation of "English".

                        Sreenath Madyastha wrote:

                        I write what is appropriate and easy to understand.

                        You may wish to rethink that sentence.

                        Sreenath Madyastha wrote:

                        Can anybody out here highlight how important it is ?

                        There is an extra space between "is" and the question mark. The question mark should abut the last word in a query.


                        Upcoming Scottish Developers events: * UK Security Evangelists On Tour (2nd November, Edinburgh) * Developer Day Scotland: are you interested in speaking or attending? My: Website | Blog

                        S 1 Reply Last reply
                        0
                        • S Shog9 0

                          Sreenath Madyastha wrote:

                          Technical people, often known to be poor in english grammar. Proper usage of verb, adverb, adjectives, semicolon, comma separation etc.,

                          Technically-minded people (or, perhaps more precisely, computer programmers) are known to often use poor grammar: improper usage of words (casting a noun as a verb, etc.), misuse of punctuation (overuse or incorrect usage of semicolons, improper placement of commas, etc.) and poor sentence structure. ok... now i'm off to get my first cup of coffee for the day. If those dern masons mess with my head and make this all look like gibberish again.... :mad:

                          every night, i kneel at the foot of my bed and thank the Great Overseeing Politicians for protecting my freedoms by reducing their number, as if they were deer in a state park. -- Chris Losinger, Online Poker Players?

                          A Offline
                          A Offline
                          Andy Brummer
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #12

                          Shog9 wrote:

                          casting a noun as a verb, etc.

                          So is that?

                          verb action = (verb)book;
                          

                          Or do you mean using a noun as a verb? :-D Yeah, I think you do need some :java:

                          Using the GridView is like trying to explain to someone else how to move a third person's hands in order to tie your shoelaces for you. -Chris Maunder

                          S A 2 Replies Last reply
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                          • D David Crow

                            Sreenath Madyastha wrote:

                            I write what is appropriate and easy to understand.

                            Which means what, exactly?

                            Sreenath Madyastha wrote:

                            Can anybody out here highlight how important it is ?

                            I consider it very important. I'm not going to write legal-ese, but I will put in what is necessary. If the target audience is unable to read it, tough.


                            "Approved Workmen Are Not Ashamed" - 2 Timothy 2:15

                            "Judge not by the eye but by the heart." - Native American Proverb

                            C Offline
                            C Offline
                            Colin Angus Mackay
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #13

                            DavidCrow wrote:

                            If the target audience is unable to read it, tough.

                            If the target audience is not able to read it then that suggests it wasn't written for that target audience.


                            Upcoming Scottish Developers events: * UK Security Evangelists On Tour (2nd November, Edinburgh) * Developer Day Scotland: are you interested in speaking or attending? My: Website | Blog

                            D 1 Reply Last reply
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                            • D David Crow

                              Sreenath Madyastha wrote:

                              I write what is appropriate and easy to understand.

                              Which means what, exactly?

                              Sreenath Madyastha wrote:

                              Can anybody out here highlight how important it is ?

                              I consider it very important. I'm not going to write legal-ese, but I will put in what is necessary. If the target audience is unable to read it, tough.


                              "Approved Workmen Are Not Ashamed" - 2 Timothy 2:15

                              "Judge not by the eye but by the heart." - Native American Proverb

                              S Offline
                              S Offline
                              Sreenath Madyastha
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #14

                              DavidCrow wrote:

                              Which means what, exactly?

                              Appropriate to the scenario(use case documentation, code documentation etc.,). I should be able to understand what I have written in the first place before making others to understand :) While writing the above sentences I did not even think of any rules. I wrote what is appropriate here. May be there are some errors. I cannot figure it out. I know basic : He loves playing football. We love playing football. (rule here is add 's' to the verb when the pronoun is plural) Do you think simple rule like helps in writing whole documentation. (documentation can be anything. Masy be use case documentation, system study etc.,) Let me know. Thanks, Sreenath

                              C 1 Reply Last reply
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                              • S Sreenath Madyastha

                                DavidCrow wrote:

                                Which means what, exactly?

                                Appropriate to the scenario(use case documentation, code documentation etc.,). I should be able to understand what I have written in the first place before making others to understand :) While writing the above sentences I did not even think of any rules. I wrote what is appropriate here. May be there are some errors. I cannot figure it out. I know basic : He loves playing football. We love playing football. (rule here is add 's' to the verb when the pronoun is plural) Do you think simple rule like helps in writing whole documentation. (documentation can be anything. Masy be use case documentation, system study etc.,) Let me know. Thanks, Sreenath

                                C Offline
                                C Offline
                                Colin Angus Mackay
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #15

                                Sreenath Madyastha wrote:

                                I should be able to understand what I have written in the first place before making others to understand

                                When I write in Dutch I can understand it perfectly. The Dutch think I am a little crazy because it is rubbish to them. Then they just talk to me in English.

                                Sreenath Madyastha wrote:

                                rule here is add 's' to the verb when the pronoun is plural

                                You may like to re-read what you wrote and you'll see that although you wrote it correctly, it does not conform to the rule you think you are using.

                                Sreenath Madyastha wrote:

                                Do you think simple rule like helps writing whole documentation.

                                Simple rules are the foundation of more complex rules. Documentation is often a description of a complex series of business rules. You must be aware of the complex rules of grammar too.


                                Upcoming Scottish Developers events: * UK Security Evangelists On Tour (2nd November, Edinburgh) * Developer Day Scotland: are you interested in speaking or attending? My: Website | Blog

                                1 Reply Last reply
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                                • C Colin Angus Mackay

                                  Sreenath Madyastha wrote:

                                  Technical people, often known to be poor in english grammar.

                                  The sentence is incorrectly structured. The comma should be replaced with "are".

                                  Sreenath Madyastha wrote:

                                  Proper usage of verb, adverb, adjectives, semicolon, comma separation etc.,

                                  This paragraph ends without a sentence termination marker (full-stop). There is a comma at the end of the paragraph. There is a verb missing.

                                  Sreenath Madyastha wrote:

                                  Even, I dont remember english rules while writing a document.

                                  The comma is unexpected. There is a missing apostrophe in "don't". There is incorrect capitalisation of "English".

                                  Sreenath Madyastha wrote:

                                  I write what is appropriate and easy to understand.

                                  You may wish to rethink that sentence.

                                  Sreenath Madyastha wrote:

                                  Can anybody out here highlight how important it is ?

                                  There is an extra space between "is" and the question mark. The question mark should abut the last word in a query.


                                  Upcoming Scottish Developers events: * UK Security Evangelists On Tour (2nd November, Edinburgh) * Developer Day Scotland: are you interested in speaking or attending? My: Website | Blog

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                                  Sreenath Madyastha
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #16

                                  Thanks a lot !. Do you see such errors in all the messages ? Any tips or references on how to be perfect ? Thanks, Sreenath

                                  P 1 Reply Last reply
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                                  • S Sreenath Madyastha

                                    Technical people, often known to be poor in english grammar. Proper usage of verb, adverb, adjectives, semicolon, comma separation etc., Even, I dont remember english rules while writing a document. I write what is appropriate and easy to understand. Can anybody out here highlight how important it is ? Thanks, Sreenath -- modified at 11:09 Tuesday 17th October, 2006

                                    L Offline
                                    L Offline
                                    Lost User
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #17

                                    Sreenath Madyastha wrote:

                                    Technical people, often known to be poor in english grammar.

                                    Then how often do people use the grammar checking facility of word processors. And how often do you disagree with the grammar suggestions that, for instance, MS Word outputs.

                                    S D 2 Replies Last reply
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                                    • L Lost User

                                      Sreenath Madyastha wrote:

                                      Technical people, often known to be poor in english grammar.

                                      Then how often do people use the grammar checking facility of word processors. And how often do you disagree with the grammar suggestions that, for instance, MS Word outputs.

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                                      Sreenath Madyastha
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #18

                                      MS Word is good for spell check. Gramatically we need to be perfect. What you think ? Thanks, Sreenath

                                      L 1 Reply Last reply
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                                      • C Colin Angus Mackay

                                        DavidCrow wrote:

                                        If the target audience is unable to read it, tough.

                                        If the target audience is not able to read it then that suggests it wasn't written for that target audience.


                                        Upcoming Scottish Developers events: * UK Security Evangelists On Tour (2nd November, Edinburgh) * Developer Day Scotland: are you interested in speaking or attending? My: Website | Blog

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                                        D Offline
                                        David Crow
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #19

                                        Colin Angus Mackay wrote:

                                        If the target audience is not able to read it then that suggests it wasn't written for that target audience.

                                        You have to make an assumption that adult professionals can at least read at a 12th grade level. I read a report recently that stated most folks read comfortably at an 8th grade level.


                                        "Approved Workmen Are Not Ashamed" - 2 Timothy 2:15

                                        "Judge not by the eye but by the heart." - Native American Proverb

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                                        • S Sreenath Madyastha

                                          MS Word is good for spell check. Gramatically we need to be perfect. What you think ? Thanks, Sreenath

                                          L Offline
                                          L Offline
                                          Lost User
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #20

                                          Gramatically correct - yes Easily readable - yes Explaining complex subjects - no word processor will help you there. A case of ensuring that the complex subject is broken down sufficiently so that the subject becomes understandable, without being disjointed, even if you must use technically correct terminology. I suspect that if I told you of some of my opinions regarding MS Word's grammar checking utility, this thread might have to be relocated to the Soapbox.

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