English Language & Usage: Multi-Layered Discourse Room

user19161

3:00 PM

Chinese New Year is next Mon. I guess there will be fireworks AGAIN.

Matt Эллен

woohoo!

user19161

I am starting to like Mrs Hiny's style of capping.

aedia λ

What is up with this morning thing happening again?

user19161

@aediaλ What thing?

aedia λ

Morning.

The light in the sky.

user19161

3:02 PM

@MattЭллен I think there were 15 min of fireworks on New Year. It made the sky smoky.

Robusto

@aediaλ At least you have a sky. We have snow.

Matt Эллен

@aedia - I don't know, but there is some sort of cyclical behaviour. I'm sure we can condition a different response

aedia λ

I had just settled down for a long winter's nap when BAM it's doing that thing again!

MetaEd

Matt Эллен

@MetaEd are you going to sue, or enter it in the Turner prize?

user19161

3:03 PM

@MetaEd Very scary.

aedia λ

@Robusto Aww. We have a bit of rain, which hasn't turned into snain or sleet or snail or slush or any of those other varieties at the moment, so of course it delayed the public transit anyway.

MetaEd

Aw, y'all are nice. It's a very poor effort.

user19161

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MartyIX

Hi, can just anyone confirm my opinion on the following sentence: "Rule definitions are written in a similar way as <something>"? I think it is incorrect and the sentence should be: "... in a similar way TO <something>".

Matt Эллен

I would use to there, yes. I would not use as

MetaEd

3:15 PM

I would write "in a similar way." (full stop)

Matt Эллен

but then you're not comparing it to anything, @MetaEd

MetaEd

For comparison: "Rule definitions are written similarly to ____".

MartyIX

@MattЭллен Thanks!

MetaEd

Or "Rule definitions are similar to ____".

Matt Эллен

in a similar way to is idiomatic, @MetaEd

Robusto

3:17 PM

Screw similar. Just use like. "Rule definitions are written like <something>."

MetaEd

I assume I'm just not familiar with that idiom, Matt. It seems very awkward to me.

Matt Эллен

maybe it's a Britishism

MartyIX

And if the sentence would be like this: "Rule definitions are written in a similar MANNER as <something>" -- is it correct or not?

Robusto

Then use to.

Matt Эллен

yeah

I always pair similar with to

Robusto

3:18 PM

But it's a poor construction to start with. I'd say it's a do-over.

MetaEd

@Robusto concur

Matt Эллен

depends on if it's a simile or an example

for a simile it seems fine to me

MartyIX

@MattЭллен "yeah" is the answer for my second question (with manner word)?

Matt Эллен

@MartyIX no, I was agreeing with Robusto

MartyIX

@MattЭллен I will stick to your rule of using similar + to. It makes sense

aedia λ

3:22 PM

@MattЭллен I do when we're talking nouns: "my coffee is similar to mud", but I am not sure I use in a similar way to. I think I would probably use something else, like much like ("a unicorn runs much like a pony") or rephrase.

Matt Эллен

@aediaλ I would say "That man runs in a similar way to a donkey" and not think I was wrong

aedia λ

@MattЭллен I think I would accept your utterance but not utter it myself :P

Mr. Shiny and New 安宇

Sigh: toronto.com/article/710353?bn=1

Matt Эллен

:D good good. I just have to remember what a friend told me one day: "You don't think like other people"

Mr. Shiny and New 安宇

@MattЭллен that's probably good to keep in mind.

MetaEd

3:28 PM

@aediaλ concur "much like"

user19161

@MrShinyandNew安宇 On an unrelated note, a couple were fined 2k each for walking naked in public.

Matt Эллен

@MrShinyandNew安宇 well, there's not much point thinking like someone else. You'll never have a thought that's your own.

user19161

@MattЭллен Good thinking!

Robusto

But seriously, folks, whenever you find yourself writing something that sounds awkward, just recast the sentence. There are many different ways to say the same thing. You don't have to be stuck with awkward constructions.

user19161

@aediaλ Very diplomatic!

Mahnax

3:30 PM

@MrShinyandNew安宇 Oh goodness.

user19161

@Mahnax Boo! I saw your comment.

Mahnax

@WillHunting Ah, good.

user19161

@Mahnax But how do you know you can't delete immediately?

Mahnax

@WillHunting Personal experience.

And I frequent MSO.

user19161

@Mahnax Then maybe things have changed or I recalled wrongly.

Mahnax

3:33 PM

@WillHunting Things do change all the time, so I would guess that it's that one.

user19161

@Mahnax Very philosophical!

Mahnax

@WillHunting Meh.

Mr. Shiny and New 安宇

@MattЭллен Yeah, but some people, including many "computer" people, are often surprised when they realize just how abnormal their thoughts are compared to "normal" people.

aedia λ

2

Q: Use of capitals and full stops in bullet points

Let's say I have a bullet point list e.g: Point 1. Point 2. Point 3. Notice I have put a capital letter for the starting letter of every bullet point and a full stop at the end. Is this the correct way to do it? If not, what is the correct way to do it? Do I put a capital letter and no fu...