[Bug translator/2308] New: stap messages errors

[Bug translator/2308] New: stap messages errors

[richardj_moore at uk dot ibm dot com]

I've noticed grammatical errors in the messages issued by stap: 
 
1)  the term "probe point" should be specified as "probepoint". It's a coined 
term that co-incides with usages such as tracepoint and logpoint and has been 
extensively in prior dprobes and kprobes documentation. 
 
2) the plural form of nouns that are preceded by a number should not be 
specified as (s)  as in "3 error(s)". This is an illiterate usage. The plural 
form is generic and suffices for all cases of zero to infinity; the singular 
for is specifically for the case of one. It's not wrong to say "1 errors" in 
the context of a generalized statement; but it is wrong to say "2 error". 
There is a practical reason for not using "error(s)" and this when one applies 
internationalization to messages and the plural declension doesn't operate in 
the same way. Likewise, if an English plural form is irregular e.g. "feet" 
then the bracket shorthand doesn't work, e.g. "2 f(ee/oo)t". If one really 
wants to use the singular form then the entire word should be replaced. (The 
same comment applies to the usage "and/or" - there's no need for it).

-- 
           Summary: stap messages errors
           Product: systemtap
           Version: unspecified
            Status: NEW
          Severity: normal
          Priority: P3
         Component: translator
        AssignedTo: systemtap at sources dot redhat dot com
        ReportedBy: richardj_moore at uk dot ibm dot com


http://sourceware.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=2308

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[Bug translator/2308] stap messages errors

[fche at redhat dot com]

------- Additional Comments From fche at redhat dot com  2006-02-09 12:49 -------
(In reply to comment #0)

> 1)  the term "probe point" should be specified as "probepoint". It's a coined 
> term [...]

It also is an ordinary noun phrase.  Prior dprobes usage does not automatically
entitle it to full glued-together minted status.

> 2) the plural form of nouns that are preceded by a number should not be 
> specified as (s)  as in "3 error(s)". This is an illiterate usage. [...]

It is just the age-old lazy, simple, and compact way.  Feel free to commit a
reworded message.


-- 


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[Bug translator/2308] stap messages errors

[richardj_moore at uk dot ibm dot com]

------- Additional Comments From richardj_moore at uk dot ibm dot com  2006-02-09 14:06 -------
Subject: Re:  stap messages errors







systemtap-owner@sourceware.org wrote on 09/02/2006 12:49:15:

>
> ------- Additional Comments From fche at redhat dot com  2006-02-09
> 12:49 -------
> (In reply to comment #0)
>
> > 1)  the term "probe point" should be specified as "probepoint".
> It's a coined
> > term [...]
>
> It also is an ordinary noun phrase.  Prior dprobes usage does not
> automatically
> entitle it to full glued-together minted status.
>
It not a question of entitlement, but clarity.  When we refer to a
probpoint we are discussing a single concept not a generl "poiint" with an
adjectival quality of "probe". The only debate should be whether
"probe-point" or "probepoint" is preferred.  Think about "breakpoint" vs
"break point": the latter is far more general than the former.


> > 2) the plural form of nouns that are preceded by a number should not be

> > specified as (s)  as in "3 error(s)". This is an illiterate usage.
[...]
>
> It is just the age-old lazy, simple, and compact way.  Feel free to
commit a
> reworded message.
>
>

Even simpler and more lazy is not to do it :-)


> --
>
>
> http://sourceware.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=2308
>
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-- 


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Re: [Bug translator/2308] stap messages errors

[Richard J Moore]

systemtap-owner@sourceware.org wrote on 09/02/2006 12:49:15:

>
> ------- Additional Comments From fche at redhat dot com  2006-02-09
> 12:49 -------
> (In reply to comment #0)
>
> > 1)  the term "probe point" should be specified as "probepoint".
> It's a coined
> > term [...]
>
> It also is an ordinary noun phrase.  Prior dprobes usage does not
> automatically
> entitle it to full glued-together minted status.
>
It not a question of entitlement, but clarity.  When we refer to a
probpoint we are discussing a single concept not a generl "poiint" with an
adjectival quality of "probe". The only debate should be whether
"probe-point" or "probepoint" is preferred.  Think about "breakpoint" vs
"break point": the latter is far more general than the former.


> > 2) the plural form of nouns that are preceded by a number should not be

> > specified as (s)  as in "3 error(s)". This is an illiterate usage.
[...]
>
> It is just the age-old lazy, simple, and compact way.  Feel free to
commit a
> reworded message.
>
>

Even simpler and more lazy is not to do it :-)


> --
>
>
> http://sourceware.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=2308
>
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> You are the assignee for the bug, or are watching the assignee.

[Bug translator/2308] stap messages errors

[fche at redhat dot com]

------- Additional Comments From fche at redhat dot com  2007-08-17 21:43 -------
Please don't get offended, Richard - this one seems to be a pure matter of
taste, and it hasn't generated any interest.

-- 
           What    |Removed                     |Added
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Status|NEW                         |RESOLVED
         Resolution|                            |WONTFIX


http://sourceware.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=2308

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