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Subject:A moment of editorial indecision From:"Dick Margulis" <margulis -at- mail -dot- fiam -dot- net> To:<techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com> Date:Wed, 14 Jun 2000 14:55:15 -0400
Folks,
When we describe charts produced by our software, I try to catch instances of "X axis" and "Y axis" and replace them with "horizontal axis" and "vertical axis" on the theory that anything that smacks of algebra is off-putting for a lot of folks. But it just occurred to me that the same folks who don't know which way is X and which way is Y may be just as confused about what horizontal and vertical mean. So maybe I should reconsider this. What do you think?
I should add that for _most_ of our audience, either form would be clear; so this choice only affects that unknown subset who are otherwise sophisticated and intelligent business people but who are somewhat math-phobic and or directionally challenged.
If you are casting a simple vote and have no other comments, please just reply off-list. Thanks!
