Re: Fw: Design Question
- From: Robert Freeman <robertgfreeman@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: michaeljmoore@xxxxxxxxx, Oracle-L Freelists <oracle-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Mon, 19 Oct 2009 13:23:35 -0700 (PDT)
Mike,
I'm just happy nobody pointed the spelling error in my reply to your post! :-)
I *always* see my errors *after* I've posted.... After I open a box of one of
my new books, it only takes about 10-15 pages for me to roll my eyes and say
"How did I miss THAT?".... Sometimes it's an error introduced in post-editing
and it wasn't my fault... more often it was an error I didn't catch, the
technical editor didn't catch, and probably 2-3 production editors didn't
catch. Now that's embarrassing.
Of course, everyone who reads the book catches the error!!
RF
Robert G. Freeman
Oracle ACE
Ask me about on-site Oracle Training! RMAN, DBA, Tuning, you name it!
Author:
Oracle Database 11g RMAN Backup and Recovery (Oracle Press) - ON IT'S WAY SOON!
OCP: Oracle Database 11g Administrator Certified Professional Study Guide
(Sybex)
Oracle Database 11g New Features (Oracle Press)
Oracle Database 10g New Features (Oracle Press)
Other various titles
Blog: http://robertgfreeman.blogspot.com
________________________________
From: Michael Moore <michaeljmoore@xxxxxxxxx>
To: Oracle-L Freelists <oracle-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Mon, October 19, 2009 1:52:41 PM
Subject: Re: Fw: Design Question
Robert,
All of your points are valid. Certainly I don't expect non-native English
speakers to be perfect or even close. I, myself, can't even speak a second
language, so, those people are way ahead of me. However, there are many highly
educated and respected persons, such as you, who set an example for the rest
of us. I would hope that these people could "get it right" almost effortlessly.
Nevertheless, you are right, this is not the place for a grammar lesson and
even if it were, I'm not really qualified to give it. My apologies to the group.
Regards,
Mike
On Mon, Oct 19, 2009 at 12:21 PM, Robert Freeman <robertgfreeman@xxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
>> Sorry for the off topic post, but when it is so easy to get it right, why
>> get it wrong?
>
>
>I protest the notion that it's easy to get things right and I suggest it's a
>response that ignores the international nature of this forum.
>
>I would prefer that people answer questions or get their ideas down on e-paper
>without worrying if their grammar, spelling or syntax is perfect (certainly it
>needs to be understandable and putting in some effort to get it right is
>admirable) and if it's going to be picked apart. For some, grammar is a
>no-brainier, and for some where English is
> not a first language it's a bigger deal.
>
>I don't know about anyone else, but when I choose to answer questions I'm
>filling a gap of available time that might be 2 minutes, or 5 minutes. I do my
>best to present a
> well written response, or pose a well written query. But if I've got to go
> edit myself over and over again I'm less likely to make the response because
> now there is more time required and there are those out there who are going
> to beat me up over one mistake made because I'm typing my response at the
> speed of light. Also, I might add, I'm not here to TEACH grammar to
> non-English speakers. This is not the Lean to Speak and Read English forum.
> Set your expectations appropriately.
>
>So the question is, do you want lots good answers with occasional bad grammar
>and spelling errors or would you like few answers that meet the bar of the
>national grammar society? I prefer the former myself. I know, I'm an author
>and this response must sound so rebellious.
>
>
>RF
>
>
> Robert G. Freeman
>Oracle ACE
>Ask me about on-site Oracle Training! RMAN, DBA, Tuning, you name it!
>Author:
>Oracle Database 11g RMAN Backup and Recovery (Oracle Press) - ON IT'S WAY SOON!
>OCP: Oracle Database 11g Administrator Certified Professional Study Guide
>(Sybex)
>>Oracle Database 11g New Features (Oracle Press)
>Oracle Database 10g New Features (Oracle Press)
>Other various titles
>Blog: http://robertgfreeman.blogspot.com
>
>
>
>
>
________________________________
>From: Michael Moore <michaeljmoore@xxxxxxxxx>
>To: oracle-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
>Sent: Mon, October 19, 2009 12:38:14 PM
>Subject: Re: Design Question
>
>
>>I've got nothing relevant to add to the discussion, so instead I'll play
>>grammar police.
>
>"fewer joins" not "less joins"
>"fewer blocks" not "less blocks"
>
>It there are countable units, use the word "fewer".
>
>Less rain; fewer drops of rain, because drops are countable, rain is not.
>Less milk; fewer quarts of milk, because quarts are countable and milk is not.
>
>Sorry for the off topic post, but when it is so easy to get it right, why get
>it wrong?
>
>Regards.
>
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