TechWhirl (TECHWR-L) is a resource for technical writing and technical communications professionals of all experience levels and in all industries to share their experiences and acquire information.
For two decades, technical communicators have turned to TechWhirl to ask and answer questions about the always-changing world of technical communications, such as tools, skills, career paths, methodologies, and emerging industries. The TechWhirl Archives and magazine, created for, by and about technical writers, offer a wealth of knowledge to everyone with an interest in any aspect of technical communications.
I've used quite a bit of "open source" software and I've never seen the
compound modifier construct of "open-source." By comparison, I've walked
through many "open doors" but I have never seen any "open-doors."
In this case, it is probably easier to think about the "source" side of
things, rather than that source being "open-source." "Open-source" implies
that the source code of "open source" applications is somehow different than
other source code, which it is not. It is just available to the "open"
community through GPL or some other "open" license.
If the door is "open," then it is an "open door" and that door does not
somehow become different and become an "open-door," except in an "open-door"
policy. In this case "open-door" is a modifier to policy. By comparison,
"open-source" would be a modifier to code, which it is not. "Open" refers
to the source and not to the code. So it is "open source code," but the
code can be the same type of code used in closed source applications.
"Closed source" means that the public does not have access to the source,
like in open source applications.
FYI, (oh right, there's another closing whatever...)
Lauren
> -----Original Message-----
> From: techwr-l-bounces+lauren=writeco -dot- net -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
> [mailto:techwr-l-bounces+lauren=writeco -dot- net -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
> ] On Behalf Of Jill Mohan
> Sent: Friday, October 24, 2008 1:06 PM
> To: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
> Subject: open-source vs. open source
>
> It's Friday and my mind is incapable of reasoning this out alone.
> If the rule for compound modifiers is this: namely that if
> the compound
> modifier comes before the noun it modifies, then it better be
> wearing its
> hyphen. If it comes after the noun, then it doesn't need its hyphen?
>
> Orca is an open-source software package.
>
> This software is open source.
>
> Thanks much!
> Jill
> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>
> ComponentOne Doc-To-Help 2009 is your all-in-one authoring
> and publishing
> solution. Author in Doc-To-Help's XML-based editor,
> Microsoft Word or
> HTML and publish to the Web, Help systems or printed manuals.
>http://www.doctohelp.com
>
> True single source, conditional content, PDF export, modular help.
> Help & Manual is the most powerful authoring tool for technical
> documentation. Boost your productivity! http://www.helpandmanual.com
>
> ---
> You are currently subscribed to TECHWR-L as lauren -at- writeco -dot- net -dot-
>
> To unsubscribe send a blank email to
> techwr-l-unsubscribe -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
> or visit
>http://lists.techwr-l.com/mailman/options/techwr-l/lauren%40wr
> iteco.net
>
>
> To subscribe, send a blank email to techwr-l-join -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
>
> Send administrative questions to admin -at- techwr-l -dot- com -dot- Visit
>http://www.techwr-l.com/ for more resources and info.
>
> Please move off-topic discussions to the Chat list, at:
>http://lists.techwr-l.com/mailman/listinfo/techwr-l-chat
>
ComponentOne Doc-To-Help 2009 is your all-in-one authoring and publishing
solution. Author in Doc-To-Help's XML-based editor, Microsoft Word or
HTML and publish to the Web, Help systems or printed manuals. http://www.doctohelp.com
True single source, conditional content, PDF export, modular help.
Help & Manual is the most powerful authoring tool for technical
documentation. Boost your productivity! http://www.helpandmanual.com
---
You are currently subscribed to TECHWR-L as archive -at- web -dot- techwr-l -dot- com -dot-
