atw: SEC: UNCLASS preventative, details is, team are, inferred by, ain't

Proceeding, as usual, on the assumption that "everyone is entitled to my
opinion", I'll offer you my personal pronouncements:

Team are/is: I agree with Bede that each has its place.
Details ... is: no no no.
Preventative: I agree this seems unstoppable, however much Laura, I and
others may dislike it (why not 'preventive'?).
Inferred by (as used by BJA): most usage guides will tell you that
'infer' means 'draw a conclusion from', NOT 'imply' (eg 'I infer from
your expression that you didn't like my joke') - however, this is a case
where you can easily produce examples, including Shakespeare, where it
*is* used as a synonym for 'imply', so maybe the distinction will
disappear. But I think that'd be a shame.
Ain't: I suspect Bede introduced this word deliberately - and he would
probably tell you it has a long pedigree. But I can't imagine how I
could ever use it in technical writing without being accused of the sin
of introducing comedy into manuals.

Howard

----------------------------
    Howard L. Silcock
     Technical Writer
Common Services SOE Program
   Department of Defence
      (02) 626 58828  
----------------------------



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