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A comment on Why knowing English is important for every software developer. Parent comment

Re:Why knowing English is important for every software devel... by lutusp on Monday September 02, 2013 @03:04AM (#6313815)
It's an uncommon contraction, also at first glance, it reads like another word, one that refers to someone who offers professional sexual services.
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Re:Why knowing English is important for every software devel... by BurritoAlPastor on Monday September 02, 2013 @03:24AM (#6313878)
It's a perfectly idiomatic contraction in spoken English, though.
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Re:Why knowing English is important for every software devel... by roel_v on Monday September 02, 2013 @03:41AM (#6313939)
But then it's pronounced differently from the way aforementioned profession is pronounced.
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Re:Why knowing English is important for every software devel... by lutusp on Monday September 02, 2013 @03:40AM (#6313932)
Yes, absolutely. It poses a greater risk when written than when spoken. :)
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Re:Why knowing English is important for every software devel... by vacri on Monday September 02, 2013 @04:08AM (#6314014)
Uncommon, sure, but still correct. Myself, I like "who'd've" and similar. Never seen in written English, but quite common in spoken English. Who'd've thought you could put two apostrophes in the one contraction? :)
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Re:Why knowing English is important for every software devel... by lutusp on Monday September 02, 2013 @05:10AM (#6314215)
> Who'd've thought you could put two apostrophes in the one contraction?

Yes, and perhaps more interestingly, what will it look like 500 years from now? Many common modern words that we assume to be self-contained turn out to be pastiches of two or more older words. Like "shire reeve" -> sheriff.

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Re:Why knowing English is important for every software devel... by gruseom on Monday September 02, 2013 @03:33PM (#6316715)
"shire reeve" -> sheriff

Well I'll be. That is so cool. Thanks!

http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=sheriff&allowed_in_...

Edit: Allow me to repay in kind. Did you know that rhubarb is called "rhubarb" because the Greeks thought only barbarians would eat it?

http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=rhubarb&allowed_in_...

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Re:Why knowing English is important for every software devel... by volpav on Monday September 02, 2013 @03:20AM (#6313865)
Fixed, thanks (btw, liked the way you put it).
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Re:Why knowing English is important for every software devel... by eriksank on Monday September 02, 2013 @03:15AM (#6313850)
I guess you are right on that point. The apostrophe in "who're" is not enough to steer thoughts away from "professional sexual service provider" ;-)
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