Hello Tim, others,
On 2024-01-27 06:53, Tim Hollebeek wrote:
Yes, that's the correct paragraph I was referring to.
Unfortunately, RFC 2119 does actually imply that these words can't
be used in non-2119 ways:
"In many standards track documents several words are used to signify
the requirements in the specification. These words are often
capitalized. This document defines these words as they should be
interpreted in IETF documents."
I would also prefer it if the uncapitalized versions retained their original
English meanings, but these sentences from 2119 are why I recommend
avoiding such usages.
It is often quite awkward, for example when you're stating mathematical
truths instead of requirements (a sentence like "If a number does not have
any factors less than its square root other than one, then the number must
be prime" should never be followed with "how do you audit that?" But it
has happened).
Well, it cannot be audited, because it's not true. As a simple example,
take 9 (even 4 would do). The factors of 9 are 3 and 1. The square root
of 9 is 3. The factor(s) of 9 less than 3 are/is 1 only. But 9 of course
isn't prime. The sentence should be fixed to "If a number does not have
any factors less than *or equal to* its square root other than one, then
the number must be prime".
Regards, Martin.
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