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Few from tonight - II

#41 User is offline   MrAce 

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Posted 2012-May-11, 13:32

 Phil, on 2012-May-11, 13:26, said:

Ergo simply means "therefore".


I know, but this doesnt help me to understand the problem of using it in forums. If it simply means "therefore" why is it considered (Han didn't say that but thats what i thought) annoying ?
"Genius has its own limitations, however stupidity has no such boundaries!"
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#42 User is offline   AlexJonson 

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Posted 2012-May-11, 14:20

For many speakers ergo is easier to spell than therefore.
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#43 User is offline   fuburules3 

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Posted 2012-May-11, 15:08

 MrAce, on 2012-May-11, 13:32, said:

I know, but this doesnt help me to understand the problem of using it in forums. If it simply means "therefore" why is it considered (Han didn't say that but thats what i thought) annoying ?


I think it can be considered pretentious. Using a "fancy" word when a "simple" one would suffice annoys some people. Ergo doesn't really bother me personally.
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#44 User is offline   gnasher 

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Posted 2012-May-12, 04:21

There's nothing wrong per se with using Latin words instead of bona fide English words, but gratuitous use of such words can be distracting, so ceteris paribus it's preferable to use vernacular English. This was recommended by, inter alia, Fowler.

PS: Personally I prefer "hence".
... that would still not be conclusive proof, before someone wants to explain that to me as well as if I was a 5 year-old. - gwnn
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#45 User is offline   gnasher 

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Posted 2012-May-13, 05:33

 gnasher, on 2012-May-12, 04:21, said:

This was recommended by, inter alia, Fowler.

If nobody else is going to nickpick this, I suppose I'd better do it myself. As I'm talking about people rather than things, it should, of course, be inter alii.
... that would still not be conclusive proof, before someone wants to explain that to me as well as if I was a 5 year-old. - gwnn
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#46 User is offline   phil_20686 

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Posted 2012-May-13, 09:42

 gnasher, on 2012-May-13, 05:33, said:

it should, of course, be inter alii.


And I thought I was pedantic.
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#47 User is offline   the hog 

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Posted 2012-May-13, 17:53

"Ergo" is prefectly acceptable as a synonym for "therefore". It is certainly not pretentious.
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#48 User is offline   hatchett 

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Posted 2012-May-14, 02:05

 gnasher, on 2012-May-13, 05:33, said:

If nobody else is going to nickpick this, I suppose I'd better do it myself. As I'm talking about people rather than things, it should, of course, be inter alii.


Does this count as nitpicking?
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#49 User is offline   han 

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Posted 2012-May-14, 05:16

I don't think that there is anything wrong with ergo, it can be perfect in the right circumstances.

If you are making the case for a new groundbreaking theory that could change the history of mankind, you haven't let the conclusion out of the box yet, you let the pressure and suspense build up and up until suddenly, after your final logical step, you conclude after a moment's pause that...... "ERGO, THE WEAK NOTRUMP PLAYED BY AN EXPERT PARTNERSHIP IS CONSIDERABLY BETTER THAN A STRONG NOTRUMP!", that would be a good occasion for the word.

I think that thus or therefore wouldn't quite do it, but hence would work just as well.
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#50 User is offline   y66 

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Posted 2012-May-14, 07:18

 gnasher, on 2012-May-13, 05:33, said:

If nobody else is going to nickpick this, I suppose I'd better do it myself. As I'm talking about people rather than things, it should, of course, be inter alios.

fyp
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#51 User is offline   MrAce 

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Posted 2012-May-14, 12:43

 han, on 2012-May-14, 05:16, said:

I don't think that there is anything wrong with ergo, it can be perfect in the right circumstances.

If you are making the case for a new groundbreaking theory that could change the history of mankind, you haven't let the conclusion out of the box yet, you let the pressure and suspense build up and up until suddenly, after your final logical step, you conclude after a moment's pause that...... "ERGO, THE WEAK NOTRUMP PLAYED BY AN EXPERT PARTNERSHIP IS CONSIDERABLY BETTER THAN A STRONG NOTRUMP!", that would be a good occasion for the word.

I think that thus or therefore wouldn't quite do it, but hence would work just as well.


Ok, now i understood it much better. Thank you.
"Genius has its own limitations, however stupidity has no such boundaries!"
"It's only when a mosquito lands on your testicles that you realize there is always a way to solve problems without using violence!"

"Well to be perfectly honest, in my humble opinion, of course without offending anyone who thinks differently from my point of view, but also by looking into this matter in a different perspective and without being condemning of one's view's and by trying to make it objectified, and by considering each and every one's valid opinion, I honestly believe that I completely forgot what I was going to say."
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#52 User is offline   rmnka447 

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Posted 2012-May-14, 18:57

Probably, "For example" would have been better. Yes, I a native born American.
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#53 User is offline   Statto 

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Posted 2012-May-15, 17:54

 Phil, on 2012-May-11, 13:26, said:

Ergo simply means "therefore".

That's what my Italian->English dictionary translates it as B-)
A perfection of means, and confusion of aims, seems to be our main problem – Albert Einstein
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