PC Comments

["Dave L. Meek's User Account" <dave -at- DISC-SYNERGY -dot- COM>]

>From netcoms!vm1.ucc.okstate.edu!techwr-l Tue Nov 22 10:20:35 1994
>Message-Id: <199411221808 -dot- KAA28236 -at- netcomsv -dot- netcom -dot- com>
>Date:         Tue, 22 Nov 1994 10:12:23 CST
>Reply-To: dlupo -at- vnet -dot- ibm -dot- com
>Sender: "Technical Writers List; for all Technical Communication issues" <TECHW
R-L -at- vm1 -dot- ucc -dot- okstate -dot- edu>
>From: Dan Lupo <dlupo -at- vnet -dot- ibm -dot- com>
>Subject:      PC Comments
>Comments: To: techwr-l -at- vm1 -dot- okstate -dot- edu
>To: Multiple recipients of list TECHWR-L <TECHWR-L -at- osuvm1 -dot- bitnet>

>Dave Meeks responds to Dan Lupo:===================================
>I believe a word's usage is derived more from convenience than from
>any calculated intent.  In my experience, the criteria arise after
>the fact.

>    Dan responds:
>    Can you define convenience?  I am not sure how that relates to
>    my original question: can you provide specific examples to
>    support your claim and help me understand your point?


I can provide several examples.  In the South, "you all" has
become "y'all."  We now use "a" instead of "an" for certain words
begining with "h".  All contractions appear to support my point.
"I can't go to the movies today" flows better than "I cannot go
to the movies today."

Now that I have provided examples, can you provide examples
showing usage criteria established before a word's actual usage?

PS  For those interested, Jack Handy is the pseudo-philosopher on
Saturday Night Live.  Most people I know find the signature quip
funny because the joke is so obvious.























""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
Dave Meek                                "It takes a big man to cry,
                                          but it takes an even bigger man
                                          to laugh at that man."
                                          -Jack Handy