Re: [PATCH] Fix overridable written with an extra 'e'

From: Uri Okrent <uokrent@gmail.com>
Date: Aug 30, 2009, 17:58 UTC
Message-ID: <loom.20090830T195508-894@post.gmane.org>
In-Reply-To: <20090828034305.GQ4297@inocybe.localdomain>

Todd Zullinger <tmz <at> pobox.com> writes:

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> 
> Nanako Shiraishi wrote:
> > Found during the lunch break by one of my students...
> 
> Is overridable a word itself?  While English is my native language, I
> wouldn't call myself an expert on its proper usage. ;)

No, it's not a word =). But of the two non-words, overridable is probably preferred.

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> 
> However, I can't find 'overridable' in several online dictionaries:
> 
> http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/overridable
> http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overridable
> http://www.google.com/dictionary?aq=f&langpair=en|en&q=overridable&hl=en
> http://dictionary.cambridge.org/results.asp?searchword=overridable&x=0&y=0
> 
> Perhaps using overridden would be more accurate?

It would be more correct, but also slightly more verbose. Still, as a grammar nazi, my two cents says it raises git's esteem if the language in the docs is proper English.

Uri