On 2015-10-08 08:58 PM, Donald Griggs wrote: > Regarding: > 2nd paragraph - The New Version Numbering System (auxiliary letter): > "The second number Y is incremented for any change that breaks forward*s* > compatibility..." > > Not that it matters much, but in general it seems that adding the "s" to > backward and forward is more often done in British English vs American. > > Also, backward is said to be more used for the adjective and backwardS when > used as an adverb. <grammar digression> :)
Yes, you're quite right. Sometimes though, these quick web references don't tell the whole story, but she isn't wrong. In the case at hand, it is A - American English we're trying to do, and B - Though forward here is an adverb, it is really used as a modifier to an adjective (Compatible) which is slightly different to when used as a modifier to a verb (which is the normal sense in which they mean "when used as an adverb" as per the link). To clarify, when used as an adverb to modify a verb, you may well add the s - such as saying "I'm moving backwards" or "It's a forwards marching army." Sometimes adding the s just feels wrong, even in UK English, such as saying "She is a forward thinking person" or "He played a brilliant forward stroke" - adding an s will be weird here. When it modifies an adjective, while it still technically is an adverb, it is mostly used sans the s - try to say these out loud (with and without the trailing s): "backward hand signal", "forward compatible device" etc. It may alter the meaning or should "feel" uncomfortable to say when you add the s (I hope!). When used as a modifier to another adverb, anything goes, mostly in America without the s and in UK with the s. Such as: "backward(s) slanted letters", "forward(s) facing lights", "backward(s) running clock" etc. </digression>
