[Ffmpeg-cvslog] r7508 - trunk/libavformat/mxf.c

[The Wanderer]

Diego Biurrun wrote:

> On Sun, Jan 14, 2007 at 08:13:49PM -0500, The Wanderer wrote:
> 
>> bcoudurier wrote:
>> 
>>> Modified:
>>>   trunk/libavformat/mxf.c
>>> 
>>> Log:
>>> indention
>>
>> This has been bothering me in a minor way for a while, and since we
>> now have at least two people who are routinely writing it this way
>> in at least their commit messages, I want to point out: this is
>> actually spelled "indentation". Yet one more example of the ways in
>> which English fails to be either neat or orderly, but there you go.
>> 
>> I would note that I am not *remotely* advocating a mass change to
>> all commit messages which contain the incorrect form - merely that
>> the correct form would be better to use in the future.
> 
> I always thought so as well, but apparently both indention and
> indentation are correct ...
> 
> http://www.m-w.com/dictionary/indention
> http://www.m-w.com/dictionary/indentation

The OED lists it as [Irregularly formed from sense 1 of the verb
"indent" instead of 'indentation', but in sense derived also from sense
2 of the verb "indent"]. Irregular forms are not generally considered
correct, at least not on the same level as the normal variations.

(It does seem slightly odd, since by strict "apply rules to transform
from one conjugation into another" I would have expected "indention" to
be the "regular" form, but the principle applies nonetheless.)

> It seems that indention is archaic, but valid.

Be that as it may, I doubt you're going to find a single native speaker
of English (with the possible exception of those who specifically study
the language, particularly its older forms) who considers "indention" to
be a correct usage nowadays. On that basis, continuing to use it in this
kind of context seems ill-advised at best.

(Which amounts to an attempt at a rational justification of "sorry, I
don't think I agree".)

-- 
       The Wanderer

Warning: Simply because I argue an issue does not mean I agree with any
side of it.

Secrecy is the beginning of tyranny.