On Tuesday 30 November 2010 19:10:45 David Jardine wrote: > On Tue, Nov 30, 2010 at 06:38:34PM +0000, Lisi wrote: > > On Tuesday 30 November 2010 12:22:57 Regid Ichira wrote: > > > Consider the following: > > > > > > $ man bootlogd | grep -A4 DESCRIPTION > > > DESCRIPTION > > > Bootlogd runs in the background and copies all strings sent to > > > the /dev/console device to a logfile. If the logfile is not > > > accessible, the messages will be kept in memory until it is. > > > > > > I think there is a problem with the 2nd sentence. Doesn't it lacks an > > > objective? Until when will the messages be kept in memory? > > > > No, there is no problem. The messages will be kept in memory until the > > logfile is accessible. But to say it like that is bad style in this > > context. As it is written is definitely correct and is what a native > > English speaker would say. > > Do you really find it bad style? As a native English speaker I find it > the most elegant way to express the idea. :) > > Cheers, > David
Yes - I don't like too much reiteration of the same words - and the original is much more felicitous. Tho' come ot think of it, bad style is probably a bit strong and how I have expressed it hear somewhat closer to the mark. Anyhow, however one phrases it, I see the original as definitely preferable. I suppose I was reacting a bit to someone who is not a native speaker wanting to send in as a bug some completely acceptable, and to me felicitous, English. But style, like beauty, is presumably in the eye of the beholder. ;-) Lisi -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to [email protected] with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact [email protected] Archive: http://lists.debian.org/[email protected]
