Fraser Speirs ([info]fraserspeirs) wrote,
@ 2006-02-02 19:58:00
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Indexes or Indices?
You can tell I've been spending waaaaay too long looking at the Bindings inspector in Interface Builder because the following point is driving me crazy:

NSTableView exposes a binding called SelectionIndexes. Everything in my mind insists that this should really be called SelectionIndices, indices being the plural of index. I looked it up, and Answers.com (the definition link on Google) lists indexes and indices as two alternative plural forms of index.

Has that always been true, or are we adopting new spellings for words because people are dumber now than before? Wasn't there a recently published dictionary that made a misspelling official because everyone was doing it? Hazy memory says that they made loosing equivalent to losing, but I may be wrong.

The Wittgenstein fans at the back can just keep quiet for now, ok?

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[info]drmellow
2006-02-02 08:06 pm UTC (link)
I don't know if it's always been like that or not, but I wouldn't be surprised if society is accepting poor spelling and ignorance as legitimate. I've recently ranted about the practice of using nouns as verbs, a similar complaint.

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[info]thecrazyfinn
2006-02-02 08:06 pm UTC (link)
I suspect the alternate is American. They may speak (mostly) the same, but their spelling is just plain wierd.

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[info]brusse
2006-02-02 08:07 pm UTC (link)
"Indexes" is probably one of those American inventions.

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[info]jmcphers
2006-02-02 08:35 pm UTC (link)
I have always said "indices", since that's what I was taught, but I've actually been rebuked for using it at work, on grounds that it was confusing and "indexes" was the commonly accepted plural of an index in the computer science sense.

Call me a rebel speller, but I still say indices.

And the day that "loosing" is made synonymous with "losing" is the day I ... well, probably throw a fit and get on with life, but that particular mistake really bothers me for some reason. (-:

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[info]xmusouka
2006-02-02 09:44 pm UTC (link)
I dont get why all of these people is making such a big deal about how there using there words. Its all the same too me.

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[info]fraserspeirs
2006-02-02 09:58 pm UTC (link)
Do'nt make come over their!!1

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(Anonymous)
2006-02-02 10:03 pm UTC (link)
*gouges own eyes out with a spoon*

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Similar problem
(Anonymous)
2006-02-03 09:27 pm UTC (link)
I have the same problem with Schemata and Schemas.

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(Anonymous)
2006-02-06 06:35 pm UTC (link)
I don't know about always, but I have a Webster's New Twentieth Century Dictionary that is over twenty years old. It lists both "indexes" and "indices". So does the somewhat newer American Heritage Dictionary.

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indices or indexes
(Anonymous)
2006-02-13 09:37 pm UTC (link)
The Chicago Manual of Style (The Essential Guide for Writer, Editors, and Publishers) also use "Indexes" as plural from of index....well that is good to know.

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[info]kallejefuz
2008-07-16 04:03 pm UTC (link)
The Chicago Manual of Style: The Essential Guide for Writers, Editors, and Publishers. 14 th ed. Chicago: U of Chicago P.

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Oxford definition
(Anonymous)
2006-07-24 08:01 pm UTC (link)
The Compact Oxford English Dictionary of Current English says "pl. indexes or especially in technical use indices /indiseez/"

http://www.askoxford.com/concise_oed/index

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losing the loosing
(Anonymous)
2007-04-20 10:49 am UTC (link)
Who the f**k uses the word loosing anyway? Besides its meaning is not even close to losing.

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Old thread, new comment..
[info]toordog
2008-04-30 08:15 pm UTC (link)
You know, this kind of irritates me as well, it's sort of like the word(s) "whom" and "who," or the improper and proper ways to use the word "I," (Yes in this instance 'I' is a word) or even simply knowing the differences between the words "there", "they're", and "their," or "to", "too", and "two." Or even correct punctuation placement such as when to use a single and a double quote, or placement of punctuation inside of a quoted phrase or word.

This simply all boils down to this, showing intelligence by using and advocating a word such as "indices" over "indexes" shows a real lack of intelligence in my opinion.Just because someone preached to you that "indices" is the correct spelling in college does not mean it's correct, you on your own should want to learn these things and be curious as to why this is and not bash or flame other countries because of a lack of understanding on your part.

Now, you sound like a smart group of people and I'm sure you know as with life there just might be more than one way to do or accomplish something -- the same applies with grammar and spelling. "Stephanie and I sold our home last week." Is an incorrectly structured sentence -- and yes, remember to modify your verbs by using "ly."

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