Re: Don't say what you CANNOT do in documents

Subject: Re: Don't say what you CANNOT do in documents
From: Dick Margulis <margulis -at- fiam -dot- net>
To: "TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com>
Date: Wed, 21 Apr 2004 13:41:47 -0400




John Posada wrote:



At what point do we satisfy to those who won't keep up with change at
the expense of others who find the "correct" way strange.



Y'know, folks, we _could_ look it up.

The American Heritage Dictionary employs a usage panel for the express purpose of watching and reporting on such issues, and a quick perusal of their most recent edition would be a better way of settling this than going with who shouts the loudest or most frequently.

I just did a quick lookup (using John's favorite tool, Google) and found that the 2000 edition of AHD says this (I think it was quoted earlier in the thread by someone else, as well):

"USAGE NOTE: Like the analogous etymological plurals agenda and data, criteria is widely used as a singular form. Unlike them, however, it is not yet acceptable in that use."

Apparently the lexicographers were sufficiently confident of this judgment that they did not bother to consult the usage panel in this case. That would lead me to conclude, John, that you're a little farther ahead of the leading edge of linguistic change than you might wish to be in a technical document. But I could be wrong on that count.

Dick


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References:
RE: Don't say what you CANNOT do in documents: From: John Posada

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