atw: Re: Mouses??
- From: "I-Ashley, Bruce" <bruce.ashley@xxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <austechwriter@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Tue, 3 Oct 2006 11:53:57 +1000
(Sorry list ... this is my last comment on the issue)
Hi Howard,
You said: "But if you can provide evidence that 'mouses' is not only
acceptable but recognized as the standard form, I'll retreat
gracefully."
I shouldn't have to tell you how to suck eggs but 'Mouses' is recognized
as the ONLY form in both the Macquarie and the Oxford. This was pointed
out in two previous emails in the thread. If this word is too
uncomfortable, then avoid its use.
Also, if you have more definitive works than these two dictionaries, I'd
like to know what they are because they are certainly unknown to me.
As for pomposity, I think you've lost the point. This is simply a matter
of using the correct word as defined in a dictionary and not inventing
your own or promoting the incorrect use of a word frequently used
incorrectly.
Remember that we are technical writers. Entrepreneurial language should
come from journalists, jingo writers or advertising copy writers, not
us. We should be defending the language to allow standardization,
consistency and a clear understanding of the message we are trying to
get across.
As such, there is no like/dislike about the use of mice/mouses, there is
simply a right and a wrong based on the definitions found in a
dictionary.
As a technical writer, you should understand this.
As for teeth/tooths et al., we are all aware of the idiosyncrasies of
the language but unless you intend to declare yourself a greater
reference source than our main dictionaries, learn to use what is
already there.
And one final thing Howard, I don't particularly care if you need
evidence other than the clear, succinct references in two major
dictionaries or if you think it bizarre to need to defend the incorrect
use of a word, or for that matter, if you will retreat gracefully when
more proofs are offered, because I have made my living, in part, over
the last 18 years, correcting these sort of errors.
There is nothing personal here Howard, I just think that on this one
occasion, you are defending the indefensible and by doing so, you are
sending the wrong message out.
Cheers,
Bruce
-----Original Message-----
From: Howard.Silcock@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:Howard.Silcock@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]
Sent: Tuesday, October 03, 2006 10:25 AM
To: austechwriter@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: atw: Re: Mouses??
Well, after a long weeked to recover from the pressure of work, perhaps
I
can calm the waters a bit. I hope Melanie's and Michael Granat's efforts
to lighten us up have an effect too. Good on you, guys, for refusing to
take the subject too seriously! Who would think that those little
devices
(whatever we call them) could be the cause of such disagreement!
Thank you, too, to Janice for responding to my earnest request for
someone
to explain what it is that people dislike about 'mice'. I do agree with
you that it's a good idea to avoid distracting the reader with usage
that's going to create a 'jar', whenever we can easily do so. I'm a bit
surprised that you think using 'mice' would be an instance of that - but
I
guess that's a matter for individual judgment. On the other hand, I
definitely agree with you that using 'mouses' could be jarring - it jars
like anything for me. And 'mouse devices' jars almost as much.
Bruce and I appear to be alike in having strong opinions on this issue -
perhaps stronger than the subject calls for, but others can judge that.
My
strong opinions come from a dislike of pomposity and a preference for
technical language to be as close to 'normal' usage as possible. Bruce
seems to think I'm trying to fight a battle that's long ago been lost.
If
you can give me some evidence of this, Bruce, I'll be happy to look at
it
- what I've seen so far appears to suggest that both usages are
acceptable
at present, so I thought it was a good time to bring the subject up. The
idea of having to 'defend' the plural 'mice' seems bizarre to me - as I
said before, it seems like defending the use of 'teeth' against 'tooths'
for the objects we find on gears or combs. But if you can provide
evidence
that 'mouses' is not only acceptable but recognised as the standard
form,
I'll retreat gracefully.
Howard
Howard Silcock
Technical Writer
ADI Limited
Electronic Systems
1 Phipps Close, Deakin, ACT 2600
Ph. +61 2 6234 6075
Fax +61 2 6234 6011
Email: howard.silcock@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Web page: www.adi-limited.com.au
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