Re: "Type" vs. "Enter"

["Ned Bedinger" <doc -at- edwordsmith -dot- com>]

----- Original Message -----
From: "TechComm Dood" <techcommdood -at- gmail -dot- com>

> Agreed. And with regard to "usages are allowed in any specialized or
> general writing in English", well, we call them thar thingamabobs
> colloquialisms, an' them varmints don't translate well to them other
> rootin' tootin languages aroun' th' globe.
>
> MsMoS has is right... "Use the most specific term".


What's that you say, 'Dude? Eh??  You took the job at the Hillbilly Gazette?
International Page Editor, whoo! Good for you!  The possum benefits ought to
come in right handy around Thanksgiving (if they don't run out afore you uns
get some).  They still got that rule about wearing shoes in the workplace?
Gaw, it makes my feet hurt just thinking about it. Haw Hee Haw!!

But seriously folks...

>From http://www.m-w.com

      Via
      Function: preposition
      Etymology: Latin, ablative of via way -- more at WAY
      1 : by way of
      2 : through the medium or agency of; also : by means of


I love lexicographers and appreciate a lot about the work that goes into
dictionaries, but I have to say that dictionaries undoubtedly have all sorts
of philosophic, budgetary, academic, and socio-political agendas and
responsibilities influencing how deep they go and what gets into print.
Because I do feel this way about dictionaries, I don't slam them shut on a
word and declare "That's that."  There's often more to the story, even a lot
more. My point is that dictionaries are great and good, but not the complete
picture on any word.  They're good enough for tech writing sometimes (if not
for the MMOS authors and apologists).

With that said, I hope I've put everybody at ease, so no one feels like
there's powerful feudal lords of language fiefdoms who are waiting to bash
you with the Doomsday Book of Words and Styles as soon as you speak out
about the weaselly things they sometimes do to writers and writing.

Here's what I'm really after.  All of my inviegling and cajoling comes down
to this:  I'd like to know if anyone has ANY example of a use of the word
"via", in any specialized or general writing in English,  that isn't clear
in the simple terms given in the M-W page?   If you do, I would appreciate
your sharing it with me, and congratulations to you for the high standards
of courage and integrity that you show in doing so.

All you others, I encourage you too to become lions of language,by
collecting examples of the egregious misuse of 'via' and sending them to the
list or me.

Ned Bedinger
Ed Wordsmith Technical Communications