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UK diy (uk.d-i-y) For the discussion of all topics related to diy (do-it-yourself) in the UK. All levels of experience and proficency are welcome to join in to ask questions or offer solutions. |
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#1
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OT - the evolving English language
On 18/05/2015 23:47, Tim Watts wrote:
On 18/05/15 23:05, Malcolm Race wrote: On 18/05/2015 20:37, Tim Watts wrote: On 18/05/15 20:14, Jonno wrote: https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B4pJAgWIUAEZb7p.jpg I'm going to start a campaign to put the "ph" back into sulphur. and the u back into colour. er - it's still there... "sulfur" is the new official english scientific spelling since a decade or two ago - apparently. I'm not sure such merkanisms are official, but more likely the fault of MS Word. I find that opening a document set to use US English spell/grammar checking will re-set the default in Word, which then sees UK-specific terms as wrong in all documents. I'm sure many people never change their language settings from new either. Many people use the full-fat version of autocorrect and therefore wind up with the wrong thing without even knowing it. Others may be less confident about their knowledge and when Word makes a suggestion they believe it to be right and so accept it. It doesn't help that the MS checkers seem to have been written by someone with only a rudimentary grasp of English, of any flavour. The only[1] solution is to turn off all autocorrects and take responibility for your own errors. Apart from mine, of course, for which I blame the keyboard.... [1] The other solution would be to teach English in school, ideally primary school, but the standard of undergraduate (il)literacy indicates that has been abandoned. |
#2
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OT - the evolving English language
On 19/05/15 08:50, GMM wrote:
On 18/05/2015 23:47, Tim Watts wrote: "sulfur" is the new official english scientific spelling since a decade or two ago - apparently. I'm not sure such merkanisms are official, but more likely the fault of MS Word. It does seem to be according to the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC): International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebit...uelsrev5.shtml https://www2.physics.ox.ac.uk/contac...ications/16238 I suspect the BBC and Oxford are going with the "official" spelling. I find that opening a document set to use US English spell/grammar checking will re-set the default in Word, which then sees UK-specific terms as wrong in all documents. I'm sure many people never change their language settings from new either. Many people use the full-fat version of autocorrect and therefore wind up with the wrong thing without even knowing it. Others may be less confident about their knowledge and when Word makes a suggestion they believe it to be right and so accept it. It doesn't help that the MS checkers seem to have been written by someone with only a rudimentary grasp of English, of any flavour. The only[1] solution is to turn off all autocorrects and take responibility for your own errors. Apart from mine, of course, for which I blame the keyboard.... [1] The other solution would be to teach English in school, ideally primary school, but the standard of undergraduate (il)literacy indicates that has been abandoned. |
#3
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OT - the evolving English language
In message , Huge
writes On 2015-05-19, GMM wrote: On 18/05/2015 23:47, Tim Watts wrote: On 18/05/15 23:05, Malcolm Race wrote: On 18/05/2015 20:37, Tim Watts wrote: On 18/05/15 20:14, Jonno wrote: https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B4pJAgWIUAEZb7p.jpg I'm going to start a campaign to put the "ph" back into sulphur. and the u back into colour. er - it's still there... "sulfur" is the new official english scientific spelling since a decade or two ago - apparently. I'm not sure such merkanisms are official, but more likely the fault of MS Word. Um, no. They're decided by IUPAC - the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemists. Yup, IIRC, Sulfur was adopted as the official spelling by IUPAC in 1990, and by the RSC in the UK a little later. I think it's sensible to have a internationally agreed spelling of such things. IIRC, there is an argument that -f makes more sense given the latin root of the word, -ph being a Greek thing. It doesn't mean someone can't use the -ph spelling, but I would use the internationally accepted spelling in documents where it mattered. Personally, I pretty laid back on the changing style of English, it always has, and will continue to do so. -- Chris French |
#4
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OT - the evolving English language
In message , Chris French
writes Personally, I pretty laid back on the changing style of English, it always has, and will continue to do so. Some of us are pre-programmed to resist change - such as spelling 'programme' as program (but only when it refers to computers). -- Ian |
#5
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OT - the evolving English language
"Ian Jackson" wrote in message
... In message , Chris French writes Personally, I pretty laid back on the changing style of English, it always has, and will continue to do so. Some of us are pre-programmed to resist change - such as spelling 'programme' as program (but only when it refers to computers). "Proactive" and "reactive", instead of "active" and "reactive"? |
#6
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OT - the evolving English language
On 19/05/15 15:55, gareth wrote:
"Ian Jackson" wrote in message ... In message , Chris French writes Personally, I pretty laid back on the changing style of English, it always has, and will continue to do so. Some of us are pre-programmed to resist change - such as spelling 'programme' as program (but only when it refers to computers). "Proactive" and "reactive", instead of "active" and "reactive"? Prescribed - meaning indicated in a written statement - as against proscribed - banned, in a written statement. I wish I had taken that to court - 'parking in a prescribed area' on a pre printed ticket, in of all places Cambridge, seat of learning... -- Everything you read in newspapers is absolutely true, except for the rare story of which you happen to have first-hand knowledge. €“ Erwin Knoll |
#7
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OT - the evolving English language
In message , gareth
writes "Ian Jackson" wrote in message ... In message , Chris French writes Personally, I pretty laid back on the changing style of English, it always has, and will continue to do so. Some of us are pre-programmed to resist change - such as spelling 'programme' as program (but only when it refers to computers). "Proactive" and "reactive", instead of "active" and "reactive"? Not 'instead'. "Active" is essentially a neutral word (the opposite being "passive"). "Proactive" means actively taking the initiative. "Reactive" means only taking an action in response to some action or situation. -- Ian |
#8
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OT - the evolving English language
On 19/05/2015 10:22, Tim Watts wrote:
On 19/05/15 08:50, GMM wrote: On 18/05/2015 23:47, Tim Watts wrote: "sulfur" is the new official english scientific spelling since a decade or two ago - apparently. I'm not sure such merkanisms are official, but more likely the fault of MS Word. It does seem to be according to the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC): International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebit...uelsrev5.shtml https://www2.physics.ox.ac.uk/contac...ications/16238 I suspect the BBC and Oxford are going with the "official" spelling. Interesting: I don't read IUPAC publications very often (or at all really), but the only time I've ever had it altered has been by sub-editors of US journals, never in UK journals. In general though, I wouldn't take BBC style as guidance for anything these days. A lot of their online offer is very poorly written and/or sub-edited. Oddly enough, there are many place names in the US spelt Sulphur (- something, Springs etc), so there must have been a time when they could spell properly..... |
#9
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OT - the evolving English language
On 19/05/2015 08:50, GMM wrote:
On 18/05/2015 23:47, Tim Watts wrote: On 18/05/15 23:05, Malcolm Race wrote: On 18/05/2015 20:37, Tim Watts wrote: On 18/05/15 20:14, Jonno wrote: https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B4pJAgWIUAEZb7p.jpg I'm going to start a campaign to put the "ph" back into sulphur. and the u back into colour. er - it's still there... "sulfur" is the new official english scientific spelling since a decade or two ago - apparently. I'm not sure such merkanisms are official, but more likely the fault of MS Word. The names are decided by international comities. The name for sulfur doesn't have ph in it any more, but that metal is spelt aluminium now. |
#10
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OT - the evolving English language
On 19/05/15 20:37, dennis@home wrote:
On 19/05/2015 08:50, GMM wrote: On 18/05/2015 23:47, Tim Watts wrote: On 18/05/15 23:05, Malcolm Race wrote: On 18/05/2015 20:37, Tim Watts wrote: On 18/05/15 20:14, Jonno wrote: https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B4pJAgWIUAEZb7p.jpg I'm going to start a campaign to put the "ph" back into sulphur. and the u back into colour. er - it's still there... "sulfur" is the new official english scientific spelling since a decade or two ago - apparently. I'm not sure such merkanisms are official, but more likely the fault of MS Word. The names are decided by international comities. WTF is a comitie? The name for sulfur doesn't have ph in it any more, but that metal Sulphur isn't a metal. is spelt aluminium now. And it isn't spelt aluminium. It's spelt sulphur. -- Everything you read in newspapers is absolutely true, except for the rare story of which you happen to have first-hand knowledge. €“ Erwin Knoll |
#11
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OT - the evolving English language
On 19/05/2015 20:51, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
The names are decided by international comities. WTF is a comitie? I have no idea, its a spell chucker not a dictionary. |
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