29 Dec 08
1 edit
Just Ask Andy or Nordlys...
#1. Why do we pronounce the singular 'woman' as it's spelled and the plural 'women' phonetically wimen? #2. Why is the first person singular
pronoun 'I' always capitalized (a convention somewhat unique to the English/American Language)? #3 Why is the hyphen in e-mail omitted?
😉
#4. __________________
29 Dec 08
Originally posted by Grampy Bobby#X (X in case anybody posts whilst I am writing my post! 😛 - 'cos we don't know do we!)
#7. Why is 'googol' coined during the late 1930's (as a term for the largest number possible, to the googol power) now spelled differently?
Why don't we say computer mice as opposed to mouses?
29 Dec 08
Originally posted by Grampy Bobby#7. That's isn't what googol represents.
#7. Why is 'googol' coined during the late 1930's (as a term for the largest number possible, to the googol power) now spelled differently?
Google was so-called to indicate that it covered a huge amount etc etc, blah blah but without directly copying the word googol.
Either that or it was another case of 'yanks can't spell' 😉
googol = 1 followed by 100 zeros - a woman on the UK 'Who wants to be a millionaire' answered that correctly as her £1 million question.
29 Dec 08
2 edits
Originally posted by mikelom#10. Why do we abbreviate microphone 'mic' and then unthinkingly insist on pronouncing it 'mike'? Might as well call a Bic a 'Bike Pen'.
#8 (X in case anybody posts whilst I am writing my post! 😛 - 'cos we don't know do we!)
Why don't we say computer mice as opposed to mouses?
P.S. Here's looking at you 'miclom'... with best wishes for 2009. -gb
😀 ---------------------------------------------------------------------> 😀
29 Dec 08
2 edits
Originally posted by Dr StrangeloveYou may be correct. My understanding is that a mathematician asked his grandson to come up with a word for the largest number in the
#7. That's isn't what googol represents.
Google was so-called to indicate that it covered a huge amount etc etc, blah blah but without directly copying the word googol.
Either that or it was another case of 'yanks can't spell' 😉
googol = 1 followed by 100 zeros - a woman on the UK 'Who wants to be a millionaire' answered that correctly as her £1 million question.
world and then proceeded to use it in his academic writings during the next few decades. Hence it's coinage. When asked about it, a Google
spokesperson claimed they were aware of the earlier use of the word but not its correct spelling. Yes, Yanks have many shortcomings.
#11. ________________
29 Dec 08
Originally posted by Grampy BobbyA googol (1 followed by 100 zeroes) was never the largest number possible.. only, in 1938, the largest number with a name. These days, the largest number with a name is "Graham's number," an ungraspable quantity far beyond a googol or even a googolplex (1 followed by a googol zeroes).
#7. Why is 'googol' coined during the late 1930's (as a term for the largest number possible, to the googol power) now spelled differently?
Originally, the founders of Google wanted to name their search engine Googol, but there was a misspelling somewhere along the way, and the rest is history.
29 Dec 08
Originally posted by Grampy Bobby1) from OE 'wifman'.
#1. Why do we pronounce the singular 'woman' as it's spelled and the plural 'women' phonetically wimen? #2. Why is the first person singular
pronoun 'I' always capitalized (a convention somewhat unique to the English/American Language)? #3 Why is the hyphen in e-mail omitted?
😉
#4. __________________
2) germanic language, capitalized nouns.
3) unnecessary clutter, email is a better word. most hyphenated words seem to experience the same fate in common parlance. most sane people don't give a crap about correct hyphenation. as english hyphenation is crazy to begin with, and has zero added value.
29 Dec 08
Originally posted by wormwoodThe hyphen does have a bit of value, as I was explaining to a coworker a couple of weeks ago.
3) unnecessary clutter, email is a better word. most hyphenated words seem to experience the same fate in common parlance. most sane people don't give a crap about correct hyphenation. as english hyphenation is crazy to begin with, and has zero added value.[/b]
I told him that when he is indicating that he has sent a particular email a second time, he should say "I re-sent it" rather than "I resent it". The first is accurate. The second will get you called into the boss's office.
It took a great deal of time to make him understand. I resent him.
29 Dec 08
Originally posted by Mimorwell, you're right there. 🙂
The hyphen does have a bit of value, as I was explaining to a coworker a couple of weeks ago.
I told him that when he is indicating that he has sent a particular email a second time, he should say "I re-sent it" rather than "I resent it". The first is accurate. The second will get you called into the boss's office.
It took a great deal of time to make him understand. I resent him.