On Sun, Nov 09, 2003 at 11:05:51AM -0500, Alexander Winston wrote: > On Sat, 2003-11-08 at 23:32, Colin Watson wrote: > > On Sat, Nov 08, 2003 at 10:46:15PM -0500, Alexander Winston wrote: > > > Front end is two words, but otherwise, I don't see why this should not > > > be added. > > > > If we're going to quibble about that then it should be hyphenated, > > namely "front-end". > > That is the adjective form, though. The noun form should not be > hyphenated.
The New Oxford Dictionary of English lists: front-end: n. Computing; a part of a computer or program that allows access to other parts. The Longman Guide to English Usage says of hyphenation: American English tends to use fewer hyphens than British English, preferring words to be either separate or solid rather than hyphenated. Since I speak British English and not American English, I shall respectfully disagree with you here. > > (Of course, the Jargon File and other similar dictionaries seem to use > > the two forms interchangeably, but hey ... I just find the space > > ungainly.) > > The Jargon File and similar so-called dictionaries are hardly sources of > profoundness when it comes to the English language. Please note that I only quoted it in order to disagree with it. > I hope you'll remember that anything worth doing is worth doing right. I do, and have therefore committed this change with the spelling I believe to be correct. :-) Cheers, -- Colin Watson [EMAIL PROTECTED]
