24 ms·

You mean "my pronunciation." It's not the most natural thing to say but it can still fly: "Merriam-Webster provides a free online dictionary, thesaurus, audio

by glurgh 13y ago

You mean "my pronunciation." It's not the most natural thing to say but it can still fly: "Merriam-Webster provides a free online dictionary, thesaurus, audio pronunciations, [...]" in a way that 'softwares' and 'advices' would not. I would add 'codes' to that use as it is often misused To make this even more confusing, in some contexts, 'codes' is used as a plural in ways you never would for general purpose programming, even though it refers to the same thing. Physics (nuclear, in particular) simulations are a case in point: http://nuclear.llnl.gov/simulation/ http://nuclear.llnl.gov/simulation/

Natsu 13y ago
I would accept that usage, but not "my pronunciations." The hard part for foreign speakers is that this usage is perfectly comprehensible, so it would rarely get corrected, while sounding bad to native speakers. Which is, of course, quite harmful to someone who wants to improve. And yes, I know of no simple answer as to when to use 'code' vs. 'codes', but I will say that I think that 'source codes' is probably always wrong. At least, I am unable to find a sentence using that which sounds right, though it might be possible for it to be correct if you were talking about something other than the source code of a computer program.
- glurgh 13y ago
  I would accept that usage, but not "my pronunciations." My filter might be a bit more lenient because I imagine an implied 'my pronunciations of some particular words" after it. I still wouldn't say it or write it but it doesn't poke me in the eye as much, especially in the middle of otherwise idiomatic-sounding casual English. So context counts as well - as do the tastes of the person reading your stuff. Someone might think you an illiterate clod for a misused "it's" or "your" or "whomever". Anyway, I think we're actually in violent agreement, my only point is the nuances are tough and not subject to easy rules. Oh, and you were saying At least, I am unable to find a sentence using that which sounds right, though it might be possible for it to be correct if you were talking about something other than the source code of a computer program. http://query.nytimes.com/search/sitesearch/#/%22source+codes%22+ http://query.nytimes.com/search/sitesearch/#/%22source+codes...
  - Natsu 13y ago
    That just makes the NY Times sound clueless. Perhaps it shouldn't, but it does. Then again, I seem to recall some observation about the evolution of language where the less-used irregular words change more frequently, and 'source code' is not something people outside of technology discuss. But that's probably why the usage, which makes them seem like outsiders, sounds bad to me.

by glurgh 13y ago

Natsu 13y ago

I would accept that usage, but not "my pronunciations." The hard part for foreign speakers is that this usage is perfectly comprehensible, so it would rarely get corrected, while sounding bad to native speakers. Which is, of course, quite harmful to someone who wants to improve. And yes, I know of no simple answer as to when to use 'code' vs. 'codes', but I will say that I think that 'source codes' is probably always wrong. At least, I am unable to find a sentence using that which sounds right, though it might be possible for it to be correct if you were talking about something other than the source code of a computer program.

glurgh 13y ago
I would accept that usage, but not "my pronunciations." My filter might be a bit more lenient because I imagine an implied 'my pronunciations of some particular words" after it. I still wouldn't say it or write it but it doesn't poke me in the eye as much, especially in the middle of otherwise idiomatic-sounding casual English. So context counts as well - as do the tastes of the person reading your stuff. Someone might think you an illiterate clod for a misused "it's" or "your" or "whomever". Anyway, I think we're actually in violent agreement, my only point is the nuances are tough and not subject to easy rules. Oh, and you were saying At least, I am unable to find a sentence using that which sounds right, though it might be possible for it to be correct if you were talking about something other than the source code of a computer program. http://query.nytimes.com/search/sitesearch/#/%22source+codes%22+ http://query.nytimes.com/search/sitesearch/#/%22source+codes...
- Natsu 13y ago
  That just makes the NY Times sound clueless. Perhaps it shouldn't, but it does. Then again, I seem to recall some observation about the evolution of language where the less-used irregular words change more frequently, and 'source code' is not something people outside of technology discuss. But that's probably why the usage, which makes them seem like outsiders, sounds bad to me.