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I apologize in advance for going a bit off-topic, but I would like to point out the following: It is never necessary, and always inelegant, to write or say "go

I apologize in advance for going a bit off-topic, but I would like to point out the following: It is never necessary, and always inelegant, to write or say "going forward". Also, it stinks of corporate-speak. The English language already has a future tense, and this bit of redundancy makes sentences sound more contrived and clunky. Simple rule of style for writing: if you can remove something and keep the meaning intact, remove it. No regrets. "Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication".

crispinb 7y ago
Oh yes thank you. I remember the first time I heard this cretinous locution used by a fellow countryman (rather than an American corporate type from whom you'd expect no better). I was gobsmacked and ignored the rest of what he said.
freehunter 7y ago
What would you use in its place? If you just said "All Chromebooks will also be Linux laptops", it's reasonable to expect that existing Chromebooks will be made Linux-ready as well. That's what the word "all" means, it means "all". But that's not the case. Only devices "launched this year" are guaranteed to be Linux-ready according to the article. "Going forward" means "from now on, but not including the past". Going forward is a much easier way of saying "from now on, but not including the past". I'm willing to accept that there is a better way, but I'd like to hear what that is. And it can't just be dropping the words "going forward", for the reason I've already explained.
- TelmoMenezes 7y ago
  > If you just said "All Chromebooks will also be Linux laptops", it's reasonable to expect that existing Chromebooks will be made Linux-ready as well. Adding "going forward" does not remove this ambiguity. You just happen to know the correct answer. I still assumed that existing ones would also be Linux-ready, until I read your comment. > "Going forward" means "from now on, but not including the past". No, it just means "from now on". It has the exact same meaning as the future tense. Your comment confirms something I suspected: unnecessary linguistic mannerisms and corporate clichés are a symptom of confused thinking. Going forward, I will add this to my list of arguments. But not in my past discussions.

crispinb 7y ago

Oh yes thank you. I remember the first time I heard this cretinous locution used by a fellow countryman (rather than an American corporate type from whom you'd expect no better). I was gobsmacked and ignored the rest of what he said.

freehunter 7y ago

What would you use in its place? If you just said "All Chromebooks will also be Linux laptops", it's reasonable to expect that existing Chromebooks will be made Linux-ready as well. That's what the word "all" means, it means "all". But that's not the case. Only devices "launched this year" are guaranteed to be Linux-ready according to the article. "Going forward" means "from now on, but not including the past". Going forward is a much easier way of saying "from now on, but not including the past". I'm willing to accept that there is a better way, but I'd like to hear what that is. And it can't just be dropping the words "going forward", for the reason I've already explained.

TelmoMenezes 7y ago
> If you just said "All Chromebooks will also be Linux laptops", it's reasonable to expect that existing Chromebooks will be made Linux-ready as well. Adding "going forward" does not remove this ambiguity. You just happen to know the correct answer. I still assumed that existing ones would also be Linux-ready, until I read your comment. > "Going forward" means "from now on, but not including the past". No, it just means "from now on". It has the exact same meaning as the future tense. Your comment confirms something I suspected: unnecessary linguistic mannerisms and corporate clichés are a symptom of confused thinking. Going forward, I will add this to my list of arguments. But not in my past discussions.