How to...ask a question
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It must be me, but the "How to..." phrase that is commonly used in the programming forum really gets on my tits! For example: How to get a variable from a class? How to create an array?. Surely, this is not a proper sentence, nor does it sound anything remotely correct when I try and repeat it verbally? I would think that any sentence that begins with 'How to' implies an instruction, or at best, a title statement; not a question. Does anyone have any opinion on this?
I Dream of Absolute Zero
Well, I can't get too upset since not everyone is a native English speaker. Plus, if one person says it, others will pick it up and start using it too. In other languages (such as French), it's perfectly OK to word a question that way. For example, "Comment cuire les oeufs?" - How do I cook eggs? If someone's native language allows that, they're naturally going to use the equivalent construct in English.
--Mike-- Visual C++ MVP :cool: LINKS~! Ericahist | PimpFish | CP SearchBar v3.0 | C++ Forum FAQ
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It must be me, but the "How to..." phrase that is commonly used in the programming forum really gets on my tits! For example: How to get a variable from a class? How to create an array?. Surely, this is not a proper sentence, nor does it sound anything remotely correct when I try and repeat it verbally? I would think that any sentence that begins with 'How to' implies an instruction, or at best, a title statement; not a question. Does anyone have any opinion on this?
I Dream of Absolute Zero
It's indicative of a wider problem in culture, where sentences become questions by raising the tone of the last word. Try this one out. I know how to do it. By raising the inflection at the end, this becomes a rather startled question: I know how to do it?
Still looking for a good sig
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You might enjoy this: Timeline of the English Language[^]
"When I get a little money, I buy books and if any is left, I buy food and clothes." --Erasmus
That's got lots of errors and omissions: Celtic also produced Gallic and Cornish. Why is Scottish English separate from British English? Scotland is in Britain too! And it's totally wrong to say that English was spoken in the 5th Century - Anglo-Saxon, yes.
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It must be me, but the "How to..." phrase that is commonly used in the programming forum really gets on my tits! For example: How to get a variable from a class? How to create an array?. Surely, this is not a proper sentence, nor does it sound anything remotely correct when I try and repeat it verbally? I would think that any sentence that begins with 'How to' implies an instruction, or at best, a title statement; not a question. Does anyone have any opinion on this?
I Dream of Absolute Zero
RChin wrote:
Does anyone have any opinion on this?
well, in my opinion, i don't think there is Any wrong in that.:):) everyone may not be able to speak good english. Languages are there just to communicate with others. we don't need to bother as long as we can understand what exactly the person is asking about...:):)
vijay.
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That's got lots of errors and omissions: Celtic also produced Gallic and Cornish. Why is Scottish English separate from British English? Scotland is in Britain too! And it's totally wrong to say that English was spoken in the 5th Century - Anglo-Saxon, yes.
Steve_Harris wrote:
Why is Scottish English separate from British English?
I think that is correct.
"When I get a little money, I buy books and if any is left, I buy food and clothes." --Erasmus