substituting during refs time

[Adam]

Originally Posted by Juulie Downs

EEK!! Please, oh, please don't continue to use parameters in this way. It's NOT correct. A parameter is a specific mathematical object, not a "definition". IOW, not the same as a "perimeter" or "boundary" as people often use it. "Criteria" would be a very good substitute in the above sentence and sounds much more educated. [toggle off frustrated inner grandmother]

Juulie, I think the 2nd definintion from Merriam Webster is close enough to fitting. It's a bit of a stretch, linguistically, I'll admit; but it fits common usage. When people stop incorrectly using "myself," (my personal pet peeve) I'll jump on the strict usage bandwagon.

Originally Posted by Snaqwells

Juulie, I think the 2nd definintion from Merriam Webster is close enough to fitting. It's a bit of a stretch, linguistically, I'll admit; but it fits common usage. When people stop incorrectly using "myself," (my personal pet peeve) I'll jump on the strict usage bandwagon.

From someone in a field that uses linguistics all the time (I teach American Sign Language), the definition fits. I use the word parameters when talking about individual signs, because there's four parameters to a sign.

[fullor30]

Originally Posted by Ref Ump Welsch

From someone in a field that uses linguistics all the time (I teach American Sign Language), the definition fits. I use the word parameters when talking about individual signs, because there are four parameters to a sign.

Fixed for ya since we are getting into grammar, etc.

Originally Posted by fullor30

Fixed for ya since we are getting into grammar, etc.

Pardon my mistake...I keep forgetting people speak proper English. My mistake would be a normal thing for deaf people to write. Damn linguist in me just can't stop!

[BillyMac]

This is all mbyron's fault. We were all doing fine posting in one syllable words until he showed up.

[mbyron]

Oh sure, blame me.

I read today that the kerfuffle over the presidential oath of office likely happened because Chief Justice Roberts is overly attached to the bogus rule against split infinitives.

The grammarian Fowler was largely responsible for demonizing constructions like, "to boldly go where no man has gone before," but I had always thought that he pulled the rule out of his butt. Turns out he justified it by the fact that Latin infinitives are a single word, and concluded that English infinitives should not be split.

I guess you gotta know where to draw the line. Oh, that probably applies to the OP, too.

[grunewar]

Originally Posted by mbyron

I read today that the kerfuffle over the presidential oath of office likely happened because Chief Justice Roberts is overly attached to the bogus rule against split infinitives.

Nah, it happened because he tried to do it from memory and screwed up. Period!