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Re: [bug #39028] [patch] fix and uniformize four error messages


From: Norbert Thiebaud
Subject: Re: [bug #39028] [patch] fix and uniformize four error messages
Date: Tue, 21 May 2013 08:21:02 -0500

On Tue, May 21, 2013 at 12:01 AM, Edward Welbourne <address@hidden> wrote:
>
> In paticular, in the case of "integral", there is a second meaning of
> the word (go on, check that dictionary, in case you've forgotten your
> calculus) which creates a (completely wanton, given that there's a
> plainer term for a number being whole) potential for confusing readers.

but you would also need to add some other words to make the sentence
grammatically correct again
s/integral/integer/ or s/integral/whole number/ does not produce a
grammatically correct sentence.

so you would need , at the very least, replace 'integral' by 'whole number as'

> Even transient confusion disrupts the flow of reading (as does having to
> look a word up in a dictionary, for that matter).  Plain language aids
> all readers,

That is a stretch.... why aren't you complaining about 'argument'
which also has multiple meaning.
In human languages, context matter. Surely if you are aware of the
'calculus' meaning of integral, you must be aware of the 'being or
related to integer' meaning.
and in context you can't be more confused here than you'd be confused
between the different possible meaning of 'argument' that follows it.

Beside, you are aware that we are talking about an error message right
? The flow has already been disrupted.

Anyway, I'll stop here on that particular bikesheed. I was just a bit
disappointed with the tendency to want to dumb down everything... oh
well.

> Eddy, a mathematician.

Norbert, an engineer who has done his fair share of Math.



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