Re: datums (grrrr)
On 2009-08-25 11:00:26 -0500, R. Baker Kearfott wrote:
> We can argue ad infinitum about deterioration of the English language,
> which I have been speaking for over 50 years. I see numerous problems
> in common usage, such as matching the verb (plural or singular) with
> the word closest to the verb, rather than with the actual subject
> of the sentence (for example, "A number of researchers ARE upset
> about this," rather than the formally correct "A number of researchers
> IS upset about this").
This isn't the number that is upset, but the researchers. So, the
correct form is the plural (ARE upset). This is confirmed by:
http://www.askoxford.com/asktheexperts/faq/aboutgrammar/numberofpeople
Anyway, standards should be written in a rigorous and consistent way
to avoid any incorrect interpretation... and possibly consistent with
other standards (such as IEEE 754 here, since P1788 will be partly
based on it).
--
Vincent Lefèvre <vincent@xxxxxxxxxx> - Web: <http://www.vinc17.org/>
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Work: CR INRIA - computer arithmetic / Arénaire project (LIP, ENS-Lyon)