Writing clarity request [LWN.net]

Writing clarity request

Posted Feb 14, 2025 15:04 UTC (Fri) by jzb (editor, #7867)
In reply to: Writing clarity request by antiphase
Parent article: Rewriting essential Linux packages in Rust

IIRC "performant" was the term used by the speaker. Sometimes we do paraphrase and I admit there are some "words" I avoid using if at all possible (e.g., "impactful") that I also have a bias against, but, generally, I prefer to stick close to the way a speaker talks. This is in no small part because there've been times when I was the person speaking and being quoted, and I want as much fidelity as possible when what I'm saying is reported on.

Also, I've traditionally seen "performant" used this way rather than simply "performs a task as standard"—and at least one online dictionary agrees with the usage. So I'm curious where it's defined otherwise. I'd look in my OED, but all the volumes are currently in boxes. I hope to solve that by next week... :)

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Writing clarity request

Posted Feb 20, 2025 7:15 UTC (Thu) by ssmith32 (subscriber, #72404) [Link] (7 responses)

You have physical copies of the OED?
As much as I like seeing Rust in action (and enjoy a passion project) - _that_ is a treasure worth reporting on 😁.

Writing clarity request

Posted Feb 20, 2025 7:58 UTC (Thu) by Wol (subscriber, #4433) [Link] (2 responses)

*WHICH* OED?

The concise? The standard? Or the complete?

I'm not sure how big the complete is, but I'd love a copy. Only snag is, it would probably take up a bookcase all by itself :-)

Cheers,
Wol

Paper copy of the full OED

Posted Feb 20, 2025 10:31 UTC (Thu) by farnz (subscriber, #17727) [Link]

I just looked at the OED paper version online. The "complete" is 20 volumes, and currently has three "additional" volumes to get up to date.

Writing clarity request

Posted Feb 20, 2025 13:32 UTC (Thu) by jzb (editor, #7867) [Link]

The complete 20-volume set. It does take up a hefty amount of shelf space -- but it's worth it. I wish that the online subscription wasn't so pricey -- though looking at it now it seems to have come down a bit. (It's $100 a year. At that price I'm almost tempted, it used to be north of $200 if I remember right.)

Writing clarity request

Posted Feb 20, 2025 13:29 UTC (Thu) by jzb (editor, #7867) [Link]

I do. The 20-volume set and the additional 3 volumes. I fell in love with the OED when I was attending a community college, and promised myself I'd buy a set someday. It took about 20 years before I could swing it, but I found a used set in a bookstore on Grand St. in St. Louis. Hope to get to unpacking it this weekend.

Writing clarity request

Posted Feb 20, 2025 18:02 UTC (Thu) by sfeam (subscriber, #2841) [Link] (2 responses)

I have the "Compact Edition" of the full OED on the shelf behind me, two large volumes of tiny print. It came in a custom case with a built-in drawer contain a magnifying glass. Each page contains images of four pages from the full-size version, sort of like the output of psnup -4. Back when I got it the magnifying glass was an unnecessary extra, now these old eyes appreciate the thought. It's still my go-to reference if I'm sitting at my desk.

Writing clarity request

Posted Feb 21, 2025 8:50 UTC (Fri) by geert (subscriber, #98403) [Link]

I guess back in those days they also offered a version on microfiche?

Writing clarity request

Posted Mar 4, 2025 11:16 UTC (Tue) by sammythesnake (guest, #17693) [Link]

My dad reached a certain moment in life when he had to get glasses, both because his eyesight was getting worse, he insisted, but because his arms were getting shorter...

I passed the same milestone myself some time ago, too :-/