Re: Weird spelling fixes in 2.1.107

Trevor Johnson (trevor@jpj.net)
Thu, 25 Jun 1998 18:03:41 -0400 (EDT)


> > - occurred; hopefully real BIOSes don't assume much. */
> > + occurred; hopefully real BIOSs don't assume much. */
>
>
> The plural of a noun that ends in "s" is formed by adding "es".
> Example:
> class
> classes

BIOS stands for "Basic Input/Output System" and the plural of "system" is
"systems".

> > - "cpu family\t: %c\n"
> > + "CPU family\t: %c\n"
> >
>
> If CPU is an abbreviation for Central Processing Unit, it should be
> capitalized. However, if it is the abbreviation for central processing
> unit, it should not!

Most acronyms are written all in capitals. In my experience, "CPU" is
ordinarily written that way.

> > - "RAMDISK: Couldn't find valid ramdisk image starting at %d.\n",
> > + "RAMDISK: Couldn't find valid RAM disk image starting at %d.\n",
> >
> >
>
> Again, if we have invented a proper name called Ramdisk, it should
> be capitalized. However, random access memory, i.e., ram need not. It
> can be, but it doesn't have to be.

It can be, and usually is (for instance, it is written that way at
http://computer.org/author/style/acronyms.htm). I won't argue that it
will be confused with an uncastrated adult male sheep.
___
Trevor Johnson

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