What’s the Plural of “Basis”?
Okay, a serious post today; no comic. Here’s a quote fro the July/August Scientific American, page 59. It’s from an article about quantum mechanics:
…In this scenario, a qubit can be in some superposition of the values +1 and -1. Measuring a qubit
involves specifying something called a basis—think of it as a direction.
Now. What do you say when you need to refer to more than one basis? Would you say “basises”? Maybe something you would pronounce “basisees”? Well, the correct plural is ths same as the plural of “base,” like four bases in baseball. And Scientific American got it right! Here’s the next sentence:
Using different measurement bases can yield different results.
I confess I don’t know how to pronounce that version of “bases.” How would you pronounce it? Tell me in the comments.
Here’s a picture from another quantum article:
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My Most Famous Spelling Error
Not much of a lesson today (I hope). This word got some significant “advertising” when I was in 6th grade. Our reading lessons featured a pioneer family and this was the winning word in a spelling bee in their one-room school house. Considering who the writer of this comic is, I’m pretty sure the error […]
Can You Add to this List of Synonyms?
Not much of a list—only two items. Can you add to it? My question, actually, is what’s the difference between those two terms? I suspect that a nerd is not just a college-educated geek. And which are you? Nerd or geek?
This Comic Breaks the First Rule of Tech Writing
The guy on the right is a tech writer. Do you know the rule he broke? The first rule of tech writing it to be clear! Being glad to use a difficult word makes me mad! Harrumpf! By the way, if you want to see all five rules, send me an email—it’s to the right […]
Another Misplaced Adjective
Remember, in English, adjectives go directly in front of the word they modify. As I mentioned in the last post, people frequently get “only” wrong. Here’s another similar goof. Last panel O think he means “look of quiet desperation.” I confess, a look can be pretty quiet, too.
