Off Topic - English Syntax
2005-03-24 07:54:38
Gosh, its been 40 years since I studied grammar in 10th grade English
class, and I didn't pay much attention at the time. I'm finding this
sideline interesting, however. Maybe it will help me communicate
better. I always learn best when there is a real application or
example. I learned nothing in my math classes, math in my physics classes,
and physics in my engineering classes. I learned to write, not in class
assignments, but when I actually had something to say.
>>>Simply removing SPF may not be an option. More likely there would be a
>>>worldwide switch to SenderID or another authentication protocol like
>>>DomainKeys, which avoids all these problems.
>
>The subordinate clause refers to DomainKeys, not SenderID. SenderID would
>have the same problems.
>
<...>
OK. Your sentence doesn't actually parse the way you are saying it does,
but if you didn't mean Sender ID, then we should move on....
The alternatives are:
1) ... worldwide switch to SenderID or another authentication protocol like
DomainKeys, which avoids all these problems.
2) ... worldwide switch to SenderID, which avoids all these problems, or
another authentication protocol like DomainKeys.
3) ... worldwide switch to SenderID or another authentication protocol like
DomainKeys, all of which avoid these problems.
The antecedent of "which avoids" has to be singular. If it were plural,
you could say "which avoid", but there would still be ambiguity because
DomainKeys looks like a possible plural antecedent. The positioning of the
clause is important to indicate which of the possible antecedents is the
intended one.
If this seems like a useless distraction over trivia, just ignore the post
and we'll move on. I'm not trying to start a nit-picking argument, but
simply trying to understand why two people misunderstood my original sentence.
-- Dave
************************************************************* *
* David MacQuigg, PhD * email: dmquigg-spf(_at_)yahoo(_dot_)com *
*
* IC Design Engineer * phone: USA 520-721-4583 * * *
* Analog Design Methodologies * * *
* * 9320 East Mikelyn Lane * * *
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- Re: Re: DNS load research, (continued)
- Re: Re: DNS load research, David MacQuigg
- Re: Re: DNS load research, Andy Bakun
- RE: Response to DDoS using SPF, David MacQuigg
- RE: Response to DDoS using SPF, Andy Bakun
- RE: Response to DDoS using SPF, David MacQuigg
- Re: Response to DDoS using SPF, Chris Haynes
- Re: Response to DDoS using SPF, David MacQuigg
- RE: Response to DDoS using SPF, Scott Kitterman
- Off Topic - English Syntax,
David MacQuigg <=
- Re: Off Topic - English Syntax, Chris Haynes
- Re: Off Topic - English Syntax, David MacQuigg
- Re: Response to DDoS using SPF, Michael Hammer
- Re: Re: DNS load research, Andy Bakun
- Re: Re: DNS load research, Marc Chametzky
- Re: DNS load research, Frank Ellermann
- Re: Re: DNS load research, Marc Chametzky
- Re: Re: DNS load research, Alex van den Bogaerdt
- Re: Re: DNS load research, David Macquigg
- Re: Re: DNS load research, Stuart D. Gathman
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