On 1/28/2012 11:33 AM, Sandra Loosemore wrote:
Sometimes the best idea is to just drop the hyphen completetly. It
seems for example (try google) that runtime is becoming much more
accepted than run-time or run time.
Coincidentally, "runtime" is the subject of my next patch chunk, and I
had to make some judgment calls there. I'll post it for review by one
of the docs maintainers instead of just checking it in.
I am in favor of dropping the hyphen in all cases for runtime, given
the clear lead from Microsoft and Sun. CMOS really is not the right
place to look for appropriate contemporary technical usage. If you
google around, you will find that at this stage runtime is getting
to be used widely, and the most notable uses:
Java Runtime Environment (SUn/Oracle)
Runtime for all Microsoft components
Are clearly influential
As for floating-point, it just makes sense to be consistent instead
of following the mandated CMOS inconsistent style, because it eases
searches. Remember CMOS was written when people had never heard of
computer searching, but the widespread use of searches argue for a
more consistent style. I don't see that hyphenating floating-point
as a noun can ever be confusing.
Yes, it will jar some people who have been taught a particular
grammar rule, just as it jars people to hear Shakespeare using
"between you and I" :-) But I think it is reasonable to take a
more pragmatic approach in the context of software documentation.
Another point is that if you choose a simple consistent rule,
rather than a more complex inconsistent rule, it is much easier
to get people to follow it, and much easier to correct it when
they fail to do so.
Otherwise, if you have a more complex rule, people will keep
getting it "wrong", resulting in noise patches fixing the problems
(I use noise here in the sense that such patches have no technically
relevant content, but nevertheless have to be taken into account
in keeping sources up to date).
Anyway, interesting to see what others think! :-)
