I am happy to submit the changes if an executive decision is made on this topic.
~Jen
The decision is rather simple, isn't it? If it has one, it is "chevron".
If it has more than one, it is "chevrons". English 101.
Dunno... do you prefer Polka Dots or Polka Dot Pattern?
If I were wearing a dotted shirt and someone asked me what I was wearing, I could
say Polka Dots or a Polka Dot print.
When the word pattern is used straight afterwards it adds to the confusion.
They are polka dots.
But the pattern is a polka dot pattern.
They are chevrons.
But the pattern is a chevron pattern.
The repetition of the decoration is a plural.
The pattern itself is the singular.
But I agree that we should stick to the literal wording.
1 chevron is a chevron, more than 1 are chevrons.
In the polka dots(s) example having dots as plural also helps when people use
dots as a plural search term because they have a part with dots on it and don't
also use the word polka in their search. They wouldn't just use dot in this
case.
I am happy to submit the changes if an executive decision is made on this topic.
~Jen
The decision is rather simple, isn't it? If it has one, it is "chevron".
If it has more than one, it is "chevrons". English 101.
Dunno... do you prefer Polka Dots or Polka Dot Pattern?
If I were wearing a dotted shirt and someone asked me what I was wearing, I could
say Polka Dots or a Polka Dot print.
When the word pattern is used straight afterwards it adds to the confusion.
They are polka dots.
But the pattern is a polka dot pattern.
They are chevrons.
But the pattern is a chevron pattern.
The repetition of the decoration is a plural.
The pattern itself is the singular.
But I agree that we should stick to the literal wording.
1 chevron is a chevron, more than 1 are chevrons.
In the polka dots(s) example having dots as plural also helps when people use
dots as a plural search term because they have a part with dots on it and don't
also use the word polka in their search. They wouldn't just use dot in this
case
They are chevrons.
But the pattern is a chevron pattern.
The repetition of the decoration is a plural.
The pattern itself is the singular.
I would avoid plural at all times if possible.
For some (strange) reason, searching for singular word will never find entries
using plural. So searching for "chevron" will not show results with "chevrons"
unless you remember to search for "chevron*". That's why I would
never have known there were any entries using "chevrons" if it wasn't
for a fact that I had in my hand a part that I was sure I ought to be able to
find in the catalog and had to find by looking through all printed parts of that
type and color. Sure enought, it had "chevrons" in the title.
So I believe it all comes down to what we expect users to search for. I would
search for "chevron" and most likely never try "chevrons", even
if no result came up.
Not strange at all. It’s only that it searches for complete words.
That’s not how some search engines work (web…) but that’s how other search features
work (editors…).
Some search features are smart enough to have it as an option… like the search-a-member/store-by-name
feature on BrickLink!
]…]
So I believe it all comes down to what we expect users to search for. I would
search for "chevron" and most likely never try "chevrons", even
if no result came up.
I, me, and myself would search for the plural when there’s more than one. And
then we would replace the final s by a * if we couldn’t find the part.
So, that’s 3 of us against 1 of you for the plural
Not strange at all. It’s only that it searches for complete words.
That’s not how some search engines work (web…) but that’s how other search features
work (editors…).
Some search features are smart enough to have it as an option… like the search-a-member/store-by-name
feature on BrickLink!
]…]
So I believe it all comes down to what we expect users to search for. I would
search for "chevron" and most likely never try "chevrons", even
if no result came up.
I, me, and myself would search for the plural when there’s more than one. And
then we would replace the final s by a * if we couldn’t find the part.
So, that’s 3 of us against 1 of you for the plural
Make that 4. Plurals please where they apply.
If only it were as simple for the sheep, deer, moose, trout, fish, aircraft and
species.
They are chevrons.
But the pattern is a chevron pattern.
The repetition of the decoration is a plural.
The pattern itself is the singular.
I would avoid plural at all times if possible.
For some (strange) reason, searching for singular word will never find entries
using plural. So searching for "chevron" will not show results with "chevrons"
unless you remember to search for "chevron*". That's why I would
never have known there were any entries using "chevrons" if it wasn't
for a fact that I had in my hand a part that I was sure I ought to be able to
find in the catalog and had to find by looking through all printed parts of that
type and color. Sure enought, it had "chevrons" in the title.
So I believe it all comes down to what we expect users to search for. I would
search for "chevron" and most likely never try "chevrons", even
if no result came up.
/Jan
There has always been an expectation here that users will adapt to the archaic
search system as they adapt to the site. Unfortunately, that leads to things
like this.
However, the true end goal is to have the search system updated to account for
the problems and not adjust the proper language terms and common English phrasings
that should be able to be used to describe items.
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United Kingdom, England
USA, Ohio
Canada, Ontario
Netherlands, Groningen