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Re: What're the proper names for the backspace and delete keys in files.
From: |
Eli Zaretskii |
Subject: |
Re: What're the proper names for the backspace and delete keys in files.texi? |
Date: |
Thu, 12 Jan 2006 22:10:53 +0200 |
> Date: Thu, 12 Jan 2006 13:16:59 +0000 (GMT)
> From: Alan Mackenzie <address@hidden>
> Cc: address@hidden
>
> OK, here are the problems I have with @node Killing in the Emacs manual:
>
> Every keyboard has a large key, labeled <DEL>, <BACKSPACE>, <BS> or
> <DELETE>, which is a short distance above the <RET> or <ENTER> key and
> is normally used for erasing what you have typed. Regardless of the
> actual name on the key, in Emacs it is equivalent to <DEL>--or it
> should be.
>
> The above paragraph appears to be an old, unreworked version of the next
> paragraph.
>
> Many keyboards (including standard PC keyboards) have a <BACKSPACE>
> key a short ways above <RET> or <ENTER>, and a <DELETE> key elsewhere.
> In that case, the <BACKSPACE> key is <DEL>, and the <DELETE> key is
> equivalent to `C-d'--or it should be.
I actually like the first (older) version better. I think "a short
distance" will be better understood, in particular by non-native
English speakers, than "a short ways". And there's no confusing
"<BACKSPACE> key is <DEL>" wording.
> What is the meaning of "equivalent" in "the <DELETE> key is
> equivalent to `C-d'"?
What it always meant--that it produces the same effect.
> Incidentally, is "a short WAYS above" intentionally so (some dialect of
> English I don't know), or should it read "a short WAY above"?
No, it's "short ways", which means nearby. Like I said: it's not
immediately understandable.
> The @key{DELETE} key, like
> ! @kbd{C-d}, deletes the following character---or it should do.
I don't think ``it should do'' is correct English here. I think the
correct wording is ``---or it should.''
- Re: What're the proper names for the backspace and delete keys in files.texi?, Alan Mackenzie, 2006/01/12
- Re: What're the proper names for the backspace and delete keys in files.texi?,
Eli Zaretskii <=
- Re: What're the proper names for the backspace and delete keys in files.texi?, Alan Mackenzie, 2006/01/12
- Re: What're the proper names for the backspace and delete keys in files.texi?, Eli Zaretskii, 2006/01/13
- Re: What're the proper names for the backspace and delete keys in files.texi?, Neil Jerram, 2006/01/13
- Re: What're the proper names for the backspace and delete keys in files.texi?, Lennart Borgman, 2006/01/13
- Re: What're the proper names for the backspace and delete keys in files.texi?, Neil Jerram, 2006/01/13
- Re: What're the proper names for the backspace and delete keys in files.texi?, Aidan Kehoe, 2006/01/13
- Re: What're the proper names for the backspace and delete keys in files.texi?, Eli Zaretskii, 2006/01/13
- RE: What're the proper names for the backspace and delete keys in files.texi?, Drew Adams, 2006/01/13
Re: What're the proper names for the backspace and delete keys in files.texi?, Richard M. Stallman, 2006/01/19