RE: Usage question - "... un-initialized state" or "... an uninitialized state"

["McLauchlan, Kevin" <Kevin -dot- McLauchlan -at- safenet-inc -dot- com>]

As you wish, sir.

Will that be all?

:)

From: Fred Ridder [mailto:docudoc -at- hotmail -dot- com]
Sent: October-11-12 9:16 AM
To: McLauchlan, Kevin; techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Subject: RE: Usage question - "... un-initialized state" or "... an uninitialized state"

Kevin McLauchlan wrote:

> I guess "wish" is one of those regional things, similar to the situation on this list - some years ago - where several people argued vociferously against the use of the PERFECTLY ACCEPTABLE "appear" in techdocs, claiming that the only inference they could garner from "appear" or "appears" was.... magic... (insert shimmer-tone and Theremin glissando here).

I take your point about the irrational prejudice against "appear", but it is undeniable that "wish" is a weaker, more tentative verb than "choose". One wishes for things that are unlikely, unavailable, difficult, unusual, or maybe even impossible. One chooses things that are available and achievable, maybe even usual or routine. When I read "if you wish" or "you may wish" to do something, I always expect to find the thought concluded with some kind of "you're SOL" statement.

-Fred Ridder



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