On 31.03.2018 15:45, Joel Kulesza wrote:
I regret that continually sending URLs about what "fn" means will not
change my mind that (a) fn comes first as "function" and (b) foot->fn is
an improvement.
Abbreviations are contextual and these links feel like selection bias to
me. Clearly, by just using two letters one can mean a lot of things (my
own Google'd URL: https://www.abbreviations.com/FN).
Yes, I agree context is important. That is why I send the scholarly
texts which LyX is clearly related to.
Further, I wonder
how translations of just the two letters would work.
I don't think English abbreviations on labels should be chosen based on
whether they work in other languages as well. It would also be a pretty
tricky aim given the variety in languages.
To the remark:
Yes, "footnote" might be better than "foot". But I think there is reason to prefer a short labels
since labels clutter the text. Hence, I suggest "fn" or, maybe, "fn.".
I wonder why you think brevity is preferable to clarity. I suspect
"foot" was attempting to strike a balance. I'd rather see no change
than moving too hard in one direction (brevity) versus the other.
The argument was not based on brevity alone. (Though I still consider it
a virtue.) There was also the reason for "fn" being a common
abbreviation for footnote in texts while "foot" is none. Hence, also, my
favoring "footnote" over "foot".
Further, regarding context: because LaTeX can and is used with
mathematics, "fn" could easily be misunderstood as function by a new
user and not taken immediately as a footnote even by an experienced one
if collapsable mathematical insets were to be used.
I don't think "fn" is a common abbreviation for function in mathematics.
At least I can't remember having come across it in my studies. Do you
have any evidence?
The only place I see "Fn" is right in front of me on my keyboard. There
it actually stands for "function", so that might be where the connection
is coming from. But it is not mathematical at all. Still the connection
might be made by enough people. I don't know that.
Daniel
P.S. Said in jest: it's interesting to have a conversation with someone on how to
properly name/identify something who goes by the handle "racoon". I imagine a
character from Guardians of the Galaxy on the far end of this email
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rocket_Raccoon).
I am just too lazy to change my sender address. Notice the addition "c"
though. Two more tries. :)
