From mboxrd@z Thu Jan 1 00:00:00 1970 From: Peter Frings Subject: Re: Language question Date: Wed, 10 Dec 2008 18:05:29 +0100 Message-ID: References: <8260CEF3-AEEF-4E9C-824D-2DBD184671BC@gmail.com> <6886503D1523ED41ACBD82F205B220EA03673D80@ad01msxmb004.US.Cingular.Net> Mime-Version: 1.0 (Apple Message framework v929.2) Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed; delsp=yes Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Return-path: Received: from mailman by lists.gnu.org with tmda-scanned (Exim 4.43) id 1LASVJ-0003j7-AQ for emacs-orgmode@gnu.org; Wed, 10 Dec 2008 12:05:41 -0500 Received: from exim by lists.gnu.org with spam-scanned (Exim 4.43) id 1LASVG-0003el-FZ for emacs-orgmode@gnu.org; Wed, 10 Dec 2008 12:05:40 -0500 Received: from [199.232.76.173] (port=38462 helo=monty-python.gnu.org) by lists.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.43) id 1LASVG-0003eY-Bj for emacs-orgmode@gnu.org; Wed, 10 Dec 2008 12:05:38 -0500 Received: from mornm01-out.agfa.com ([134.54.1.75]:13921) by monty-python.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.60) (envelope-from ) id 1LASVF-0000fQ-QV for emacs-orgmode@gnu.org; Wed, 10 Dec 2008 12:05:38 -0500 In-Reply-To: <6886503D1523ED41ACBD82F205B220EA03673D80@ad01msxmb004.US.Cingular.Net> List-Id: "General discussions about Org-mode." List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , Sender: emacs-orgmode-bounces+geo-emacs-orgmode=m.gmane.org@gnu.org Errors-To: emacs-orgmode-bounces+geo-emacs-orgmode=m.gmane.org@gnu.org To: emacs-orgmode Org-Mode On 10 Dec 2008, at 17:13, Womick, Don wrote: > 's always indicates possession, never plurality. > > I don't think there's a hard-and-fast choice between "IDs" and "ids", > but "IDs" looks better to me, since it's clear that you're using an > abbreviation. But if you write "id" (singular), be consistent and > write > "ids" (plural). I'm not a native English speaker, but since the Chicago Manual of Style is within reach... About the plural: * Letters, nouns coinages, numbers: So far as it can be done without confusion, single or multiple letters used as words, hyphenated coinages used as nouns, and numbers (wether spelled out or in figures) firm the plural by adding s alone: the three Rs YMCAs ... * Abbreviations with periods, lowercase letters used as nouns, and capital letters that would be confusing if /s/ alone were added form the plural with an apostrohpe and an s: Ph.D's x's and y's SOS's ... About the capitalization: I can't find it right now (might have read it somewhere else), but I think the rule is rather simple: Acronyms should be written in uppercase when they are spelled out in speech, e.g. ID (Ey-Dee). When they're being used as words, they're written in lowercase, e.g., 'radar'. Combining the two, I think it's "IDs". Cheers, Peter.