Usage of english grammar. [modified]
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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
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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MS Word is good for spell check. Gramatically we need to be perfect. What you think ? Thanks, Sreenath
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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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
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 SmithMarc Clifton wrote:
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.
Word's grammar check is absolutely horrific. Spell check is OK although it still doesn't use context to determine if a word is misspelled, but matches another properly spelled word (i.e. "I hat a bad day" passes with flying colours). I remember reading a research article awhile back that talked about the "Microsoftification" of student papers. So many students are using Word's grammar check that their papers have a tendency to exhibit a similar, generic writing style. Cheers, Drew.
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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.
Richard A. Abbott wrote:
And how often do you disagree with the grammar suggestions that, for instance, MS Word outputs.
While I don't disagree with it, I have a hard time correcting Word's "Passive Voice" sentences.
"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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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
Sreenath Madyastha wrote:
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 ?
Then you "might" need a documentation specialist to fix such things. The importance depends on who sees it. If you are the only person who sees it, then anything you write is appropriate as long as you still understand it a year later. If others on your team have to use it, then what ever is appropriate for the entire team is the rule of order. If your bosses see this, etc.... If the customer ever sees this writing, hire someone to fix it and fix it right, always. Always put your best first impression, and lasting impression to your customers.
_________________________ Asu no koto o ieba, tenjo de nezumi ga warau. Talk about things of tomorrow and the mice in the ceiling laugh. (Japanese Proverb)
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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
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 -
Thanks a lot !. Do you see such errors in all the messages ? Any tips or references on how to be perfect ? Thanks, Sreenath
Sreenath Madyastha wrote:
Any tips or references on how to be perfect ?
Invent your own language. That is the only way you will ever be "perfect" in a language. There is plenty of disagreement on english grammar rules. You can never be perfect. Aim to be proficient rather.
regards, Paul Watson Ireland FeedHenry needs you
eh, stop bugging me about it, give it a couple of days, see what happens.
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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
To tell you the truth, it's quite important. One thing I should acknowledge here is that I came to know about *good* english only through the Lounge. So many have helped me indirectly, Marc, Nish, Rex & all these guys and Paul Watson had even been a good english teacher at times :rolleyes:.. I thank them all. :) :rose::rose: I still need to improve a lot though.. :) bybye. GoodNight!
Wanted: Good Sig.
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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
Andy Brummer wrote:
Yeah, I think you do need some :java:
:doh: Kinda point out what the priority of my addictions is though...
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?
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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
The most common example of noun used as a verb has to be:
Why don't you google it?
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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?
and then we set warning level 4 and the compiler points out all most some of our mistakes :laugh: Steve
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Sreenath Madyastha wrote:
Any tips or references on how to be perfect ?
Invent your own language. That is the only way you will ever be "perfect" in a language. There is plenty of disagreement on english grammar rules. You can never be perfect. Aim to be proficient rather.
regards, Paul Watson Ireland FeedHenry needs you
eh, stop bugging me about it, give it a couple of days, see what happens.
Yes. I agree with you. One sentence can be written in several ways.
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Andy Brummer wrote:
Yeah, I think you do need some :java:
:doh: Kinda point out what the priority of my addictions is though...
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?
I've spent the past few months kicking the habit, and now I'm on my second day of 0 caffene intake. The biggest change has been that I've noticed my body reacts differently to drinking a cup of coffee vs. a cup of water. Before the only difference was that coffee kept me from getting a nasty headache and feeling like crap. Now, I actually know what those people were talking about when they said caffene rush. I didn't need to quit, but cutting back my intake to 1 cup a day has never worked for me. It's just too easy to move back up to a couple of pots a day.
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
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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
There are some very entertaining books out there about the "rules" of English. One of my favourite books is Troublesome Words by Bill Bryson. Another excellent example is Eats Shoots and Leaves by Lynne Truss. The best advice I was ever given for writing was to write it out once, leave it for a while and then remove the crap. That's why I'm no good at writing the corporate bull that I end up having to write:^)
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There are some very entertaining books out there about the "rules" of English. One of my favourite books is Troublesome Words by Bill Bryson. Another excellent example is Eats Shoots and Leaves by Lynne Truss. The best advice I was ever given for writing was to write it out once, leave it for a while and then remove the crap. That's why I'm no good at writing the corporate bull that I end up having to write:^)
Thanks Pete. I will check this.
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Richard A. Abbott wrote:
And how often do you disagree with the grammar suggestions that, for instance, MS Word outputs.
While I don't disagree with it, I have a hard time correcting Word's "Passive Voice" sentences.
"Approved Workmen Are Not Ashamed" - 2 Timothy 2:15
"Judge not by the eye but by the heart." - Native American Proverb
Passive voice is a perfectly valid construct. In many cases, it conveys a subtlety that the author is intentionally trying to convey. "While she was not the prettiest one there, she sure got my attention." ...has a slightly different feel than... "She sure got my attention even though she was not the prettiest one there." Word will complain about the first version, but it is not wrong.
"Quality Software since 1983!" http://www.smoothjazzy.com/
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Passive voice is a perfectly valid construct. In many cases, it conveys a subtlety that the author is intentionally trying to convey. "While she was not the prettiest one there, she sure got my attention." ...has a slightly different feel than... "She sure got my attention even though she was not the prettiest one there." Word will complain about the first version, but it is not wrong.
"Quality Software since 1983!" http://www.smoothjazzy.com/
Well, I don't know about you but most of the time I can rewrite my "Passive Voice" sentences into better "Active Voice" sentences (especially when writing instructions/manuals).
"A democracy is nothing more than mob rule, where fifty-one percent of the people may take away the rights of the other forty-nine." - Thomas Jefferson "Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote." - Benjamin Franklin Edbert Sydney, Australia
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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?
Most of the time I get e-mails from management (CEO, CFO, VP, managers) that I can barely understand and I have to call them back for explanation. This, however, is not the case with the technical people I encounter. It may have something to do with people not wanting to spend an extra 2 minutes explaining their problems when writing e-mails though, those lazy bastards :laugh:
"A democracy is nothing more than mob rule, where fifty-one percent of the people may take away the rights of the other forty-nine." - Thomas Jefferson "Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote." - Benjamin Franklin Edbert Sydney, Australia
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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
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 SmithMarc Clifton wrote:
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"?).
Huh? If everybody does that, where do you think we will get gems such as "All your bases are belong to us"?;P
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u shood use good grammer cause it makes u look smart