If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. |
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
More commentary on Jobs and idiots who think food can cure cancer once you've got it
Savageduck wrote:
On 2011-11-21 08:50:03 -0800, "Neil Harrington" said: John Turco wrote: Neil Harrington wrote: Savageduck wrote: On 2011-10-30 08:45:58 -0700, John A. said: Le Snip I also noticed the larger context, bearing in mind what was being written about, and figured out, without even thinking about it much, or even consciously, what was meant. Are you also confused by such sentences as "Abraham Lincoln wrote the Gettysburg Address while traveling on the back of an envelope"? Aaaagh! ...and that is a trule demonstration of fractured syntax, illuminating the ignorance of the writer, rather than the interpretive skills of the reader. A comma would fix it, though. I'm not saying that would make it the best possible way to express the idea, but . . . Two commas are necessary: "Abraham Lincoln wrote the Gettysburg Address, while traveling, on the back of an envelope." "Abraham Lincoln wrote the Gettysburg Address while traveling, on the back of an envelope" does just as well. I had considered the two-comma fix as well, and there's nothing wrong with doing it that way, but really one comma is sufficient. Electrons should be conserved wherever possible. Some day you may need a few extra electrons, and be all out of them just because of having used a comma that wasn't absolutely necessary. Well, that still doesn't truly fix the ambiguity. I think it does. The only ambiguity in the original sentence is the possibility of reading it as meaning that Lincoln was traveling on the back of an envelope while writing the address, and the single comma provides enough separation to prevent reading it that way. I'm not saying it's the ideal way of presenting that idea, it's awkward in fact, but it removes the ambiguity. To do that the sentence could be rearranged one of two ways; (A two comma solution) Abraham Lincoln, while traveling, wrote the Gettysburg Address on the back of an envelope. or (a one comma solution) While traveling, Abraham Lincoln wrote the Gettysburg Address on the back of an envelope. Or a completely commaless solution: "Abraham Lincoln wrote the Gettysburg Address on the back of an envelope while traveling." I don't think there's any way of misunderstanding that. |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
More commentary on Jobs and idiots who think food can cure cancer once you've got it
On 2011-12-03 07:59:58 -0800, "Neil Harrington" said:
Savageduck wrote: On 2011-11-21 08:50:03 -0800, "Neil Harrington" said: John Turco wrote: Neil Harrington wrote: Savageduck wrote: On 2011-10-30 08:45:58 -0700, John A. said: Le Snip I also noticed the larger context, bearing in mind what was being written about, and figured out, without even thinking about it much, or even consciously, what was meant. Are you also confused by such sentences as "Abraham Lincoln wrote the Gettysburg Address while traveling on the back of an envelope"? Aaaagh! ...and that is a trule demonstration of fractured syntax, illuminating the ignorance of the writer, rather than the interpretive skills of the reader. A comma would fix it, though. I'm not saying that would make it the best possible way to express the idea, but . . . Two commas are necessary: "Abraham Lincoln wrote the Gettysburg Address, while traveling, on the back of an envelope." "Abraham Lincoln wrote the Gettysburg Address while traveling, on the back of an envelope" does just as well. I had considered the two-comma fix as well, and there's nothing wrong with doing it that way, but really one comma is sufficient. Electrons should be conserved wherever possible. Some day you may need a few extra electrons, and be all out of them just because of having used a comma that wasn't absolutely necessary. Well, that still doesn't truly fix the ambiguity. I think it does. The only ambiguity in the original sentence is the possibility of reading it as meaning that Lincoln was traveling on the back of an envelope while writing the address, and the single comma provides enough separation to prevent reading it that way. I'm not saying it's the ideal way of presenting that idea, it's awkward in fact, but it removes the ambiguity. Well, I guess we have to agree to disagree on that point. ....or in this case comma. To do that the sentence could be rearranged one of two ways; (A two comma solution) Abraham Lincoln, while traveling, wrote the Gettysburg Address on the back of an envelope. or (a one comma solution) While traveling, Abraham Lincoln wrote the Gettysburg Address on the back of an envelope. Or a completely commaless solution: "Abraham Lincoln wrote the Gettysburg Address on the back of an envelope while traveling." I don't think there's any way of misunderstanding that. ....and once again, that is not an ambiguity clarifying solution. It still leaves one wondering just how Abe saddled that envelope, or what breed of horse this envelope might be. Re read my two offerings for two unambiguous solutions using the same 14 words. |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
More commentary on Jobs and idiots who think food can cure cancer once you've got it
Whisky-dave wrote:
On Dec 3, 3:59 pm, "Neil Harrington" wrote: Savageduck wrote: On 2011-11-21 08:50:03 -0800, "Neil Harrington" said: John Turco wrote: Neil Harrington wrote: Savageduck wrote: On 2011-10-30 08:45:58 -0700, John A. said: Le Snip I also noticed the larger context, bearing in mind what was being written about, and figured out, without even thinking about it much, or even consciously, what was meant. Are you also confused by such sentences as "Abraham Lincoln wrote the Gettysburg Address while traveling on the back of an envelope"? Aaaagh! ...and that is a trule demonstration of fractured syntax, illuminating the ignorance of the writer, rather than the interpretive skills of the reader. A comma would fix it, though. I'm not saying that would make it the best possible way to express the idea, but . . . Two commas are necessary: "Abraham Lincoln wrote the Gettysburg Address, while traveling, on the back of an envelope." "Abraham Lincoln wrote the Gettysburg Address while traveling, on the back of an envelope" does just as well. I had considered the two-comma fix as well, and there's nothing wrong with doing it that way, but really one comma is sufficient. Electrons should be conserved wherever possible. Some day you may need a few extra electrons, and be all out of them just because of having used a comma that wasn't absolutely necessary. Well, that still doesn't truly fix the ambiguity. I think it does. The only ambiguity in the original sentence is the possibility of reading it as meaning that Lincoln was traveling on the back of an envelope while writing the address, and the single comma provides enough separation to prevent reading it that way. I'm not saying it's the ideal way of presenting that idea, it's awkward in fact, but it removes the ambiguity. To do that the sentence could be rearranged one of two ways; (A two comma solution) Abraham Lincoln, while traveling, wrote the Gettysburg Address on the back of an envelope. or (a one comma solution) While traveling, Abraham Lincoln wrote the Gettysburg Address on the back of an envelope. Or a completely commaless solution: "Abraham Lincoln wrote the Gettysburg Address on the back of an envelope while traveling." I don't think there's any way of misunderstanding that. Why did he write it on the back of the envelope, here in the UK we always put the address on the front so the postman knows where to believe it. Here in the U.S. too. Presumably someone had already written an address on the front of the envelope, leaving only the back free for Lincoln's sentiments. If he had written it on the front, it might have started, "Four score and seven years ago Mr. Alexander Snidely our fathers brought forth on 148 Main Street (etc., etc.)" and people would have had trouble making sense out of it. we also have postcodes, I believe those in the US use the term ZIP codes Correct. Irrelevant, but correct. Sometimes for custom purposes we put the senders address on the back of the envelope. Fortunately no one had done that in this case, or he might not have had room enough for the whole speech. It was pretty short as it was, though it still annoyed some newspaper editors since it was misleading. |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
More commentary on Jobs and idiots who think food can cure cancer once you've got it
Whisky-dave wrote:
On Dec 11, 6:35 pm, "Neil Harrington" wrote: Whisky-dave wrote: On Dec 3, 3:59 pm, "Neil Harrington" wrote: Savageduck wrote: On 2011-11-21 08:50:03 -0800, "Neil Harrington" said: John Turco wrote: Neil Harrington wrote: Savageduck wrote: On 2011-10-30 08:45:58 -0700, John A. said: Le Snip I also noticed the larger context, bearing in mind what was being written about, and figured out, without even thinking about it much, or even consciously, what was meant. Are you also confused by such sentences as "Abraham Lincoln wrote the Gettysburg Address while traveling on the back of an envelope"? Aaaagh! ...and that is a trule demonstration of fractured syntax, illuminating the ignorance of the writer, rather than the interpretive skills of the reader. A comma would fix it, though. I'm not saying that would make it the best possible way to express the idea, but . . . Two commas are necessary: "Abraham Lincoln wrote the Gettysburg Address, while traveling, on the back of an envelope." "Abraham Lincoln wrote the Gettysburg Address while traveling, on the back of an envelope" does just as well. I had considered the two-comma fix as well, and there's nothing wrong with doing it that way, but really one comma is sufficient. Electrons should be conserved wherever possible. Some day you may need a few extra electrons, and be all out of them just because of having used a comma that wasn't absolutely necessary. Well, that still doesn't truly fix the ambiguity. I think it does. The only ambiguity in the original sentence is the possibility of reading it as meaning that Lincoln was traveling on the back of an envelope while writing the address, and the single comma provides enough separation to prevent reading it that way. I'm not saying it's the ideal way of presenting that idea, it's awkward in fact, but it removes the ambiguity. To do that the sentence could be rearranged one of two ways; (A two comma solution) Abraham Lincoln, while traveling, wrote the Gettysburg Address on the back of an envelope. or (a one comma solution) While traveling, Abraham Lincoln wrote the Gettysburg Address on the back of an envelope. Or a completely commaless solution: "Abraham Lincoln wrote the Gettysburg Address on the back of an envelope while traveling." I don't think there's any way of misunderstanding that. Why did he write it on the back of the envelope, here in the UK we always put the address on the front so the postman knows where to believe it. Here in the U.S. too. Presumably someone had already written an address on the front of the envelope, leaving only the back free for Lincoln's sentiments. My point was that if he wrote theGettysburg Address on teh back of teh envelope that's where the sender writes it. And example would be 90210 gettersburg street and on the front you'd write the address where you wanted the envelope to go . He didn't want the envelope to go anywhere. He needed it to read his speech from. it If he had written it on the front, it might have started, "Four score and seven years ago Mr. Alexander Snidely our fathers brought forth on 148 Main Street (etc., etc.)" and people would have had trouble making sense out of it. we also have postcodes, I believe those in the US use the term ZIP codes Correct. Irrelevant, but correct. Just checking that it was part of the address although the term address can have two meanings here it seems. Yes. Many words have more than one meaning, and "address" is such a word. My point was that the line "While traveling, Abraham Lincoln wrote the Gettysburg Address on the back of an envelope." Can have other meanings. Sometimes for custom purposes we put the senders address on the back of the envelope. Fortunately no one had done that in this case, or he might not have had room enough for the whole speech. See he's writing a speech now rather than an address. A speech is an address. It was pretty short as it was, though it still annoyed some newspaper editors since it was misleading. |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
More commentary on Jobs and idiots who think food can cure cancer once you've got it
Whisky-dave wrote:
On Dec 13, 2:31 pm, "Neil Harrington" wrote: Whisky-dave wrote: On Dec 11, 6:35 pm, "Neil Harrington" wrote: Whisky-dave wrote: On Dec 3, 3:59 pm, "Neil Harrington" wrote: Savageduck wrote: On 2011-11-21 08:50:03 -0800, "Neil Harrington" said: John Turco wrote: Neil Harrington wrote: Savageduck wrote: On 2011-10-30 08:45:58 -0700, John A. said: Le Snip I also noticed the larger context, bearing in mind what was being written about, and figured out, without even thinking about it much, or even consciously, what was meant. Are you also confused by such sentences as "Abraham Lincoln wrote the Gettysburg Address while traveling on the back of an envelope"? Aaaagh! ...and that is a trule demonstration of fractured syntax, illuminating the ignorance of the writer, rather than the interpretive skills of the reader. A comma would fix it, though. I'm not saying that would make it the best possible way to express the idea, but . . . Two commas are necessary: "Abraham Lincoln wrote the Gettysburg Address, while traveling, on the back of an envelope." "Abraham Lincoln wrote the Gettysburg Address while traveling, on the back of an envelope" does just as well. I had considered the two-comma fix as well, and there's nothing wrong with doing it that way, but really one comma is sufficient. Electrons should be conserved wherever possible. Some day you may need a few extra electrons, and be all out of them just because of having used a comma that wasn't absolutely necessary. Well, that still doesn't truly fix the ambiguity. I think it does. The only ambiguity in the original sentence is the possibility of reading it as meaning that Lincoln was traveling on the back of an envelope while writing the address, and the single comma provides enough separation to prevent reading it that way. I'm not saying it's the ideal way of presenting that idea, it's awkward in fact, but it removes the ambiguity. To do that the sentence could be rearranged one of two ways; (A two comma solution) Abraham Lincoln, while traveling, wrote the Gettysburg Address on the back of an envelope. or (a one comma solution) While traveling, Abraham Lincoln wrote the Gettysburg Address on the back of an envelope. Or a completely commaless solution: "Abraham Lincoln wrote the Gettysburg Address on the back of an envelope while traveling." I don't think there's any way of misunderstanding that. Why did he write it on the back of the envelope, here in the UK we always put the address on the front so the postman knows where to believe it. Here in the U.S. too. Presumably someone had already written an address on the front of the envelope, leaving only the back free for Lincoln's sentiments. My point was that if he wrote theGettysburg Address on teh back of teh envelope that's where the sender writes it. And example would be 90210 gettersburg street and on the front you'd write the address where you wanted the envelope to go . He didn't want the envelope to go anywhere. He needed it to read his speech from. Oh most people wrote speeches on paper. Yes. In this country, that is the material from which envelopes are usually made. it If he had written it on the front, it might have started, "Four score and seven years ago Mr. Alexander Snidely our fathers brought forth on 148 Main Street (etc., etc.)" and people would have had trouble making sense out of it. we also have postcodes, I believe those in the US use the term ZIP codes Correct. Irrelevant, but correct. Just checking that it was part of the address although the term address can have two meanings here it seems. Yes. Many words have more than one meaning, and "address" is such a word. Which can also explain the confusion of such sentances. I write my address's on the back of envolopes too. My point was that the line "While traveling, Abraham Lincoln wrote the Gettysburg Address on the back of an envelope." Can have other meanings. Sometimes for custom purposes we put the senders address on the back of the envelope. Fortunately no one had done that in this case, or he might not have had room enough for the whole speech. See he's writing a speech now rather than an address. A speech is an address. In todays world..... Memory locations can have addresses too. could be an email address.... Yes. It's a wonderful world. Lots of different things in it. I guess it depends on your enviroment as to what such things can mean to that individual, but expecting everyone to see teh word as having theri meaning is pushing your luck, better to make sure of things especaily in politics. Most people here understand what is meant by "Lincoln's Gettysburg Address." (Or at least they did before our schools became as dumb as they have. Now one cannot be sure what most people understand.) |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
More commentary on Jobs and idiots who think food can cure cancer once you've got it | Eric Stevens | Digital SLR Cameras | 64 | November 14th 11 03:05 AM |
More commentary on Jobs and idiots who think food can cure cancer once you've got it | Eric Stevens | Digital Photography | 3 | November 5th 11 05:22 AM |
More commentary on Jobs and idiots who think food can cure canceronce you've got it | John McWilliams | Digital Photography | 4 | November 4th 11 02:26 PM |
Online Jobs.Earn $500 or more per month.Part time Data Entry Jobs.No | nario | Digital Photography | 1 | March 14th 08 01:54 AM |
Is dry cat food good enough, or do they need canned food too? | SJH | Digital Photography | 3 | February 6th 05 10:00 PM |