On 22 November 2013 22:00, Paul W. Frields <stickster@xxxxxxxxx> wrote: > On Fri, Nov 22, 2013 at 03:17:32PM -0600, inode0 wrote: >> On Fri, Nov 22, 2013 at 2:54 PM, Rolf Turner <r.turner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote: >> > >> > Just read some stuff on this list about "spins", a concept which had >> > not previously impinged itself upon my consciousness. So I went and >> > had a look at the spins.fedoraproject.org page. It started off by saying >> > "What is a spin? Fedora spins are alternate version of Fedora, tailored >> > ...". >> > >> > For God's sake, people!!! That's "alternative versions"!!! Alternate >> > means "every other" or "every second". Alternative means "available as >> > another possibility". Saying "alternate" when you mean "alternative" is >> > sloppy, lazy thinking and irritates and confuses the reader. >> > >> > Why can't computer geeks learn to write English correctly? >> >> In American usage this is acceptable and common. But if it bothers you >> that much why didn't you just correct it on the wiki in a fraction of >> the time it took you to rant about it here? > > Actually, this is on the spins.fp.o site which isn't a wiki. But > regardless, a query of https://www.google.com/search?q=alternate using > en_US locations shows this is acceptable usage. We also tend to > misspell with vigor here. ;-) Move along, nothing to see here... > I believe the docs project is responsible for this and other pages, people who are not necessarily "computer geeks" and some of whom are experienced proof-readers. However there is a lot to do and things do slip through, so anyone who thinks they can usefully contribute is welcome to join. FWIW, just because it's in the dictionary doesn't mean it's current or commonly understood usage. "Alternative" would scan much better for me too, something has gone wrong with that particular sentence anyway, since a plural has gone astray. Someone please chip in with at this point with a 16th century example showing verbs don't need to agree... -- imalone http://ibmalone.blogspot.co.uk -- users mailing list users@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx To unsubscribe or change subscription options: https://admin.fedoraproject.org/mailman/listinfo/users Fedora Code of Conduct: http://fedoraproject.org/code-of-conduct Guidelines: http://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Mailing_list_guidelines Have a question? Ask away: http://ask.fedoraproject.org
