Terry: The real difference is between prescriptive and descriptive definitions. Standards definitions are prescriptive. English dictionary definitions are descriptive (being based on common usage). However, French dictionary definitions tend to be prescriptive (because of l'Acad�mie Fran�aise), which may explain why the French are more comfortable with standards than almost anyone else.
Bill Potts, CMS Roseville, CA http://metric1.org [SI Navigator] >-----Original Message----- >From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] >Behalf Of Terry Simpson >Sent: Saturday, May 29, 2004 14:56 >To: U.S. Metric Association >Subject: [USMA:30004] Re: R]EADIN > > >> Of Pat Naughtin >>For people not used to 'standards' such as those embodied in SI, >>it must be quite confusing when they are confronted with fixed >>'standards' and strict 'definitions' when their only experiences in >>this area are with dictionary writers who offer them >>'descriptions' based (as the Oxford English Dictionary puts it on >>its from cover) 'On Historical Principles'. > >You have just made explicit the reason why I get frustrated with people >using custom and familiarity as a reason why they need not follow >standards. >I can understand that casual use of measurement terms deserves a relaxed >approach, but formal use deserves a more formal approach. > >I had not thought of the distinction between a definition and a >description. >Thanks for drawing it to my attention. >
