RE: The Edge of Greatness? (was "Errors")

["Combs, Richard" <richard -dot- combs -at- Polycom -dot- com>]

Andrew Warren wrote:
 
> A strong argument can be made that this example, because it's 
> in such a reputable document, helps to MAKE the usage of 
> "more perfect"
> acceptable.
> 
> You may find the American Heritage Dictionary's "perfect" 
> usage notes interesting; they're here:
> 
>     http://www.thefreedictionary.com/perfect
> 

I've never bought the argument that absolute terms such as perfect,
unique, and equal can't take qualifiers of degree. Perfection
(uniqueness, equality, ...) is rarely achieved, but it can be
_approached_. Some people, institutions, etc., come closer to achieving
that state than others, and thus they are more _nearly_ perfect (unique,
equal, ...). 

It seems perfectly reasonable to me to drop _nearly_ as understood or
implied. It's no more idiomatic than a million other expressions.

YMMV, of course. :-)

Richard


------
Richard G. Combs
Senior Technical Writer
Polycom, Inc.
richardDOTcombs AT polycomDOTcom
303-223-5111
------
rgcombs AT gmailDOTcom
303-777-0436
------




^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Create HTML or Microsoft Word content and convert to Help file formats or 
printed documentation. Features include support for Windows Vista & 2007 
Microsoft Office, team authoring, plus more.
http://www.DocToHelp.com/TechwrlList

Now shipping: Help & Manual 4 with RoboHelp(r) import! New editor,
full Unicode support. Create help files, web-based help and PDF in up
to 106 languages with Help & Manual: http://www.helpandmanual.com

---
You are currently subscribed to TECHWR-L as archive -at- web -dot- techwr-l -dot- com -dot- 

To unsubscribe send a blank email to 
techwr-l-unsubscribe -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
or visit http://lists.techwr-l.com/mailman/options/techwr-l/archive%40web.techwr-l.com


To subscribe, send a blank email to techwr-l-join -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com

Send administrative questions to admin -at- techwr-l -dot- com -dot-  Visit
http://www.techwr-l.com/ for more resources and info.