As does asterix instead of asterisk.
As for annoying usage, 'sea-change' really gets my goat. What's wrong with 'change'?
And another:the pacific is an ocean, the word you want to use when talking about a certain thing is specific.
"Quantum leap" has always puzzled me. When I was learning physics as a young Mr Larrington we were taught that things at the sub-atomic level were very very small.
"Quantum leap" has always puzzled me.
Have I objected to "A number of cyclists is expected..." yet? That number is plural. You'd say "a hundred of them are...", wouldn't you?
Quote from: Mr Larrington on 04 July, 2011, 01:58:46 pm"Quantum leap" has always puzzled me.+1. A quantum leap would appear to be the smallest change possible, which is not entirely what people generally mean rower40 has a point about the step change, but the step is almost immeasurably small
Quote from: HTFB on 05 July, 2011, 10:32:06 amHave I objected to "A number of cyclists is expected..." yet? That number is plural. You'd say "a hundred of them are...", wouldn't you? Think of a number. Any number.Are that number 6?Thought not.
Quote from: HTFB on 05 July, 2011, 10:32:06 amHave I objected to "A number of cyclists is expected..." yet? That number is plural. You'd say "a hundred of them are...", wouldn't you? Think of a number.Any number.Are that number 6?Thought not.
A peleton of cyclists is expected.
The point is that it is a big change within the system concerned (e.g. an atom).
Quote from: mattc on 05 July, 2011, 01:13:00 pmThe point is that it is a big change within the system concerned (e.g. an atom). "Quantum" just means it's a sudden jump between two discontinuous fixed states, but that could be a fairly low-level energetic transition associated with an outer electron. You could imagine indexed gearing as having quantised behaviour (hopefully)...
And it should also be 'Peloton', please.