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A comment on Wikipedia users edits over 90k uses of “comprised of”. Parent comment

Re:Wikipedia users edits over 90k uses of “comprised of” by spencerchubb on Saturday May 06, 2023 @12:28PM (#35842862)
> Words mean whatever a critical mass of people want them to mean.

Yes this is true for natural language, but we don't want Wikipedia to have natural language. We want Wikipedia to have clear and concise language.

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Wikipedia users edits over 90k uses of “comprised of” by KeplerBoy on Saturday May 06, 2023 @12:42PM (#35843011)
There's no governing body that decides how the English language is to be used. It's defined by the people as they write, speak and interpret it.

French for example, is different. They have council with official authority over the language.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acad%C3%A9mie_Fran%C3%A7aise

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Wikipedia users edits over 90k uses of “comprised of” by SilasX on Saturday May 06, 2023 @01:26PM (#35843448)
Whether a language has a governing body is irrelevant to whether you should attempt to use clear, easily-understood language. The concerns apply equally in French and English.
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Wikipedia users edits over 90k uses of “comprised of” by KeplerBoy on Saturday May 06, 2023 @05:34PM (#35845549)
Sure i meant to point out that there's not necessarily a difference between natural and clear, concise language.
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Wikipedia users edits over 90k uses of “comprised of” by SilasX on Saturday May 06, 2023 @08:49PM (#35846764)
Yes, there is: the case you were replying to.
[ Parent | on HN ]