Re: st: Re: A comment on abbreviations

[Michael McCulloch <mm@pinest.org>]

I could go either way on this argument. Yes, abbreviations make it 
more difficult to read, however I've also learned a lot about how and 
why to abbreviate (such as saving keystrokes!)

Perhaps a simple disclaimer (e.g. "Abbrevs used")?

Michael McCulloch (One of the less experienced users, eternally 
grateful for the help I've received from this wonderful group).




> Guilty as charged! But sometimes fast turnaround on the list renders 
> such practices necessary. At the end of the day, Stata understands 
> you when you enter -h prob-: The correct help file appears, so it is 
> possible to understand what the line "prob f p w" means.
> Secondly, the output that appears on screen after the command also 
> clearly says what Stata has just calculated.
> I was not aware that there was an FAQ explicitly prohibiting 
> abbreviations. Sorry about that...
>
> HTH
> Martin
> _______________________
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Svend Juul" <SJ@SOCI.AU.DK>
> To: <statalist@hsphsun2.harvard.edu>
> Sent: Sunday, September 21, 2008 1:52 PM
> Subject: st: A comment on abbreviations
>
>
> > Abbreviations make it easier to write a text, but more difficult to 
> > read it. Especially if your experience with the language is 
> > limited, abbreviations make life difficult. I have the impression 
> > that the use of abbreviations at Statalist have increased during 
> > the last months, and recently a response included this:
> >   prob f p w
> >
> > It means
> >   probit foreign price weight
> > - and that is much easier to read.
> >
> > The Statalist FAQ includes good advice, mostly to less experienced 
> > users seeking help. I think it should also include this advice to 
> > the more experienced users offering help:
> >
> >   Be helpful. Avoid abbreviations.
> >
> > Right?
> >
> > Svend
> >
> >
> > ________________________________________________________
> >
> > Svend Juul
> > Institut for Folkesundhed, Afdeling for Epidemiologi
> > (Institute of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology)
> > Vennelyst Boulevard 6
> > DK-8000 Aarhus C,  Denmark
> > Phone, work:   +45 8942 6090
> > Phone, home:   +45 8693 7796
> > Fax:           +45 8613 1580
> > E-mail:        sj@soci.au.dk
> > _________________________________________________________
> >
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