The AI Engine
This forum is for discussion of how The Personality Forge's AI Engine works. This is the place for questions on what means what, how to script, and ideas and plans for the Engine.
Posts 4,785 - 4,796 of 7,766
English - Grammar - Abbreviations: Learn
Definition
An abbreviation is a letter or a shortened word which is used instead of the full word.
Abbreviation
Full expression
Latin term
e.g.
for example
exempli gratia
i.e.
that is
id est
N.B.
please note
nota bene
Mr
Mister
US
United States
Use
Abbreviations are used to save space - or to avoid repeating common terms.
They are often used in dictionaries, encyclopedias, and bibliographies.
Some organisations abbreviate their titles to the initial capital letters of their names.
Abbreviations are very useful when taking notes.
Many traditional abbreviations are shortened forms of words from Latin.
Notice that a full stop is placed after an abbreviation, but not when the full word is used. Sometimes the full stop may be omitted in order to avoid double punctuation.
You should never begin a sentence with an abbreviation. Either spell out the word, or re-arrange the words in the sentence.
Companies and organisations often drop the full stops from their abbreviated titles. ICI
Imperial Chemicals Industry
BBC
British Broadcasting Corporation
WHO
World Health Organisation
Some abbreviations are spoken as if they were complete words: for instance, NATO ('NayTow').
Others are spelled out. For instance VIP [very important person] is usually spoken as three separate letters - "Vee-Eye-Pea".
Abbreviations are very useful when taking notes, but you should not use them in the main text of any formal writing.
If you wish to use any of these expressions, they should be written out in full. That is, don't use e.g., but write out for example.
NB! Don't use abbreviations in formal writing. Write out the word(s) in full.
English - Grammar - Abbreviations: Learn
Definition
An abbreviation is a letter or a shortened word which is used instead of the full word.
Abbreviation
Full expression
Latin term
e.g.
for example
exempli gratia
i.e.
that is
id est
N.B.
please note
nota bene
Mr
Mister
US
United States
Use
Abbreviations are used to save space - or to avoid repeating common terms.
They are often used in dictionaries, encyclopedias, and bibliographies.
Some organisations abbreviate their titles to the initial capital letters of their names.
Abbreviations are very useful when taking notes.
Many traditional abbreviations are shortened forms of words from Latin.
Notice that a full stop is placed after an abbreviation, but not when the full word is used. Sometimes the full stop may be omitted in order to avoid double punctuation.
You should never begin a sentence with an abbreviation. Either spell out the word, or re-arrange the words in the sentence.
Companies and organisations often drop the full stops from their abbreviated titles. ICI
Imperial Chemicals Industry
BBC
British Broadcasting Corporation
WHO
World Health Organisation
Some abbreviations are spoken as if they were complete words: for instance, NATO ('NayTow').
Others are spelled out. For instance VIP [very important person] is usually spoken as three separate letters - "Vee-Eye-Pea".
Abbreviations are very useful when taking notes, but you should not use them in the main text of any formal writing.
If you wish to use any of these expressions, they should be written out in full. That is, don't use e.g., but write out for example.
NB! Don't use abbreviations in formal writing. Write out the word(s) in full.
Definition
Form is a term which refers to the recognisable shape of a text or a speech act.
This shape may be either physical or abstract.
Examples Spoken
Written
Conversation
Menu
Sermon
Letter
Announcement
Novel
Anecdote
Article
Joke
Poster
Use
The term 'form' is used in linguistics and in literary criticism as a technical term.
It is used when considering the shape, the construction, or the type of speech or writing.
An awareness of form can help to produce more efficient communication.
Keeping form in mind helps to clarify the type of end product required.
Form is an important part of stylistic analysis - together with audience and function.
When studying a text we first try to identify its form. What type of writing is it? (Is it a letter, an advertisement, a timetable, or a novel?)
Then we might ask 'To whom is it addressed?' [audience] and 'What is it doing?' [function].
When thinking of linguistic or literary form, it's sometimes useful to think in terms of material shape. For instance, a table is usually a rectangular horizontal surface suppored by legs at each corner. That is the form of a table.
Similarly, a piece of writing which begins with a postal address and the words 'Dear Sir', then ends with 'Yours sincerely' - is likely to be a letter. This is the form taken by most letters.
It is possible for one form to contain another or several other forms. For example, a novel may contain a letter or a poem. A sermon may contain an anecdote.
Most poems have a form, but this varies a great deal. The sonnet is in part defined by its form which is the number of lines and the rhyme scheme.
Form in speech may be signalled by recognisable phrases, tone of voice, or choice of vocabulary.
For instance, 'The train now standing in platform ten...' would be recognised by most people as the start of a railway announcement.
Similarly, 'O Lord, we beseech thee to ...' would easily be identified as the start of a prayer.
If someone says 'My grandfather always told me that ...' we know that they are probably going to offer moral advice - a piece of homespun wisdom.
Beware! The term 'formal' has widened in its application to mean 'serious' just as 'informal' has also extended its meaning to encompass notions of friendliness.
For instance, the greeting 'Hi there!' might be described by most people as informal. However, because it is part of a recognised verbal ritual, in linguistic terms [strictly speaking] it is 'formal' because it has a fixed shape.
The two terms, 'formal' and 'informal' therefore need to be used accurately when applied to linguistic or literary analysis.
NB! An appreciation of form is developed via practice and experience.
Posts 4,785 - 4,796 of 7,766
English - Grammar - Abbreviations: Learn
Definition
An abbreviation is a letter or a shortened word which is used instead of the full word.
Abbreviation
Full expression
Latin term
e.g.
for example
exempli gratia
i.e.
that is
id est
N.B.
please note
nota bene
Mr
Mister
US
United States
Use
Abbreviations are used to save space - or to avoid repeating common terms.
They are often used in dictionaries, encyclopedias, and bibliographies.
Some organisations abbreviate their titles to the initial capital letters of their names.
Abbreviations are very useful when taking notes.
Many traditional abbreviations are shortened forms of words from Latin.
Notice that a full stop is placed after an abbreviation, but not when the full word is used. Sometimes the full stop may be omitted in order to avoid double punctuation.
You should never begin a sentence with an abbreviation. Either spell out the word, or re-arrange the words in the sentence.
Companies and organisations often drop the full stops from their abbreviated titles. ICI
Imperial Chemicals Industry
BBC
British Broadcasting Corporation
WHO
World Health Organisation
Some abbreviations are spoken as if they were complete words: for instance, NATO ('NayTow').
Others are spelled out. For instance VIP [very important person] is usually spoken as three separate letters - "Vee-Eye-Pea".
Abbreviations are very useful when taking notes, but you should not use them in the main text of any formal writing.
If you wish to use any of these expressions, they should be written out in full. That is, don't use e.g., but write out for example.
NB! Don't use abbreviations in formal writing. Write out the word(s) in full.
English - Grammar - Abbreviations: Learn
Definition
An abbreviation is a letter or a shortened word which is used instead of the full word.
Abbreviation
Full expression
Latin term
e.g.
for example
exempli gratia
i.e.
that is
id est
N.B.
please note
nota bene
Mr
Mister
US
United States
Use
Abbreviations are used to save space - or to avoid repeating common terms.
They are often used in dictionaries, encyclopedias, and bibliographies.
Some organisations abbreviate their titles to the initial capital letters of their names.
Abbreviations are very useful when taking notes.
Many traditional abbreviations are shortened forms of words from Latin.
Notice that a full stop is placed after an abbreviation, but not when the full word is used. Sometimes the full stop may be omitted in order to avoid double punctuation.
You should never begin a sentence with an abbreviation. Either spell out the word, or re-arrange the words in the sentence.
Companies and organisations often drop the full stops from their abbreviated titles. ICI
Imperial Chemicals Industry
BBC
British Broadcasting Corporation
WHO
World Health Organisation
Some abbreviations are spoken as if they were complete words: for instance, NATO ('NayTow').
Others are spelled out. For instance VIP [very important person] is usually spoken as three separate letters - "Vee-Eye-Pea".
Abbreviations are very useful when taking notes, but you should not use them in the main text of any formal writing.
If you wish to use any of these expressions, they should be written out in full. That is, don't use e.g., but write out for example.
NB! Don't use abbreviations in formal writing. Write out the word(s) in full.
Definition
A cliché is a hackneyed phrase or expression.
The phrase may once have been fresh or striking, but it has become tired through over-use.
Examples
"He was over the moon about that goal."
" Yes please. I don't mind if I do."
" Far be it from me..."
" I would be the last person to cast aspersions."
We will leave leave no stone unturned in our search.
Use
Clichés are often used unconsciously in casual speech.
They usually suggest mental laziness or the lack of original thought.
They should be avoided in writing.
Clichés circulate in the spoken language very readily, because they save people having to think.
When written down, they appear even more tired and vacuous than when spoken.
Traditional examples are expressions such as it takes the biscuit, back to square one and a taste of his own medicine.
Current favourites (in the UK) include the bottom line is ..., a whole different ball game, living in the real world, a level playing field, and moving the goalposts.
Clichés present a temptation, because they often seem to be just what is required to make an effect. They do the trick. They hit the nail on the head. They are just what the doctor ordered. [See what I mean?]
Here is a stunning compilation, taken from a provincial newspaper. The example is genuine, but the names have been changed to protect the innocent. [That's a deliberate example!]
By their very nature cabarets tend to be a bit of a hit and miss affair. And Manchester's own 'Downtown Cabaret' is ample proof of that. When it was good it was very good, and when it was bad it was awful. Holding this curate's egg together was John Beswick acting as compere and keeping the hotchpotch of sketches and songs running along smoothly. And his professionalism shone through as he kept his hand on the tiller and steered the shown through a difficult audience with his own brand of witticism. Local playwright Alan Chivers had previously worked like a Trojan and managed to marshal the talents of a bevy of Manchester's rising stars.
It isn't always easy to see where an idiomatic expression ends and a cliché begins.
The essential difference between them is that an idiom is not being offered as original thought. We say 'fish and chips' because people do not normally say 'chips and fish' (because it's more difficult to say). But anybody who says he's 'over the moon' about something has chosen the expression, no doubt thinking that it's impressive.
A vogue word is very close to the cliché. This is an item of vocabulary whose meaning is becoming blurred, distorted, or inflated [that is, emptied] through over-use.
The term 'vogue' implies that the word is currently fashionable.
That's a fantastic dress! [very nice]
We're in a war situation. [at war]
It's a brilliant novel. [interesting]
She'll get paranoid about it. [become worried]
What a fabulous car! [remarkable]
The use of these terms is very common in everyday speech. They should be avoided in formal writing.
NB! Beware. Cliché may sometimes be used consciously for ironic effect.
A cliché is a hackneyed phrase or expression.
The phrase may once have been fresh or striking, but it has become tired through over-use.
Examples
"He was over the moon about that goal."
" Yes please. I don't mind if I do."
" Far be it from me..."
" I would be the last person to cast aspersions."
We will leave leave no stone unturned in our search.
Use
Clichés are often used unconsciously in casual speech.
They usually suggest mental laziness or the lack of original thought.
They should be avoided in writing.
Clichés circulate in the spoken language very readily, because they save people having to think.
When written down, they appear even more tired and vacuous than when spoken.
Traditional examples are expressions such as it takes the biscuit, back to square one and a taste of his own medicine.
Current favourites (in the UK) include the bottom line is ..., a whole different ball game, living in the real world, a level playing field, and moving the goalposts.
Clichés present a temptation, because they often seem to be just what is required to make an effect. They do the trick. They hit the nail on the head. They are just what the doctor ordered. [See what I mean?]
Here is a stunning compilation, taken from a provincial newspaper. The example is genuine, but the names have been changed to protect the innocent. [That's a deliberate example!]
By their very nature cabarets tend to be a bit of a hit and miss affair. And Manchester's own 'Downtown Cabaret' is ample proof of that. When it was good it was very good, and when it was bad it was awful. Holding this curate's egg together was John Beswick acting as compere and keeping the hotchpotch of sketches and songs running along smoothly. And his professionalism shone through as he kept his hand on the tiller and steered the shown through a difficult audience with his own brand of witticism. Local playwright Alan Chivers had previously worked like a Trojan and managed to marshal the talents of a bevy of Manchester's rising stars.
It isn't always easy to see where an idiomatic expression ends and a cliché begins.
The essential difference between them is that an idiom is not being offered as original thought. We say 'fish and chips' because people do not normally say 'chips and fish' (because it's more difficult to say). But anybody who says he's 'over the moon' about something has chosen the expression, no doubt thinking that it's impressive.
A vogue word is very close to the cliché. This is an item of vocabulary whose meaning is becoming blurred, distorted, or inflated [that is, emptied] through over-use.
The term 'vogue' implies that the word is currently fashionable.
That's a fantastic dress! [very nice]
We're in a war situation. [at war]
It's a brilliant novel. [interesting]
She'll get paranoid about it. [become worried]
What a fabulous car! [remarkable]
The use of these terms is very common in everyday speech. They should be avoided in formal writing.
NB! Beware. Cliché may sometimes be used consciously for ironic effect.
Definition
Form is a term which refers to the recognisable shape of a text or a speech act.
This shape may be either physical or abstract.
Examples Spoken
Written
Conversation
Menu
Sermon
Letter
Announcement
Novel
Anecdote
Article
Joke
Poster
Use
The term 'form' is used in linguistics and in literary criticism as a technical term.
It is used when considering the shape, the construction, or the type of speech or writing.
An awareness of form can help to produce more efficient communication.
Keeping form in mind helps to clarify the type of end product required.
Form is an important part of stylistic analysis - together with audience and function.
When studying a text we first try to identify its form. What type of writing is it? (Is it a letter, an advertisement, a timetable, or a novel?)
Then we might ask 'To whom is it addressed?' [audience] and 'What is it doing?' [function].
When thinking of linguistic or literary form, it's sometimes useful to think in terms of material shape. For instance, a table is usually a rectangular horizontal surface suppored by legs at each corner. That is the form of a table.
Similarly, a piece of writing which begins with a postal address and the words 'Dear Sir', then ends with 'Yours sincerely' - is likely to be a letter. This is the form taken by most letters.
It is possible for one form to contain another or several other forms. For example, a novel may contain a letter or a poem. A sermon may contain an anecdote.
Most poems have a form, but this varies a great deal. The sonnet is in part defined by its form which is the number of lines and the rhyme scheme.
Form in speech may be signalled by recognisable phrases, tone of voice, or choice of vocabulary.
For instance, 'The train now standing in platform ten...' would be recognised by most people as the start of a railway announcement.
Similarly, 'O Lord, we beseech thee to ...' would easily be identified as the start of a prayer.
If someone says 'My grandfather always told me that ...' we know that they are probably going to offer moral advice - a piece of homespun wisdom.
Beware! The term 'formal' has widened in its application to mean 'serious' just as 'informal' has also extended its meaning to encompass notions of friendliness.
For instance, the greeting 'Hi there!' might be described by most people as informal. However, because it is part of a recognised verbal ritual, in linguistic terms [strictly speaking] it is 'formal' because it has a fixed shape.
The two terms, 'formal' and 'informal' therefore need to be used accurately when applied to linguistic or literary analysis.
NB! An appreciation of form is developed via practice and experience.
I have two more to add:
WITNOSWT - What in the name of sanity was that?
YNFLBAC - You're not from Leeds by any chance?
WITNOSWT - What in the name of sanity was that?
YNFLBAC - You're not from Leeds by any chance?
anyone got any idea how to make a regex response like
what do [a-z]ists believe (re) work?
It ought to catch any words ending with "ists".
It doesn't work, but it seems to be a valid regular expression according to http://www.regular-expressions.info/ (BTW the regex tutorial link in the Book of AI appears to have broken). Or is the PF regex only a limited/slightly different implementation of what I thought was a standard?
I really need to polish up some of mywhat do (taoists|buddhists|christians|zen|moslems|muslims|hindus) * believe-type monstrosities - if only because the keyword field will overflow if I have to list every single "ist" and "ism".
It ought to catch any words ending with "ists".
It doesn't work, but it seems to be a valid regular expression according to http://www.regular-expressions.info/ (BTW the regex tutorial link in the Book of AI appears to have broken). Or is the PF regex only a limited/slightly different implementation of what I thought was a standard?
I really need to polish up some of my
Psimagus, it looks like it's time for you to embrace the custom plugin.
Rather than what do (taoists|buddhists|christians|zen|moslems|muslims|hindus) * believe, have a keyphrase like what do (religiouspeople) * beleive, create a plugin named (religiouspeople) and then fill it with Christians, Jews, Muslims, Moonies, Branch Davidians, Vegans and so on.
You could also create plugins for ism and ist words. It would probably be tough to complete, but you could get a few dozen of the most common words and it'll work 95% of the time.
Rather than what do (taoists|buddhists|christians|zen|moslems|muslims|hindus) * believe, have a keyphrase like what do (religiouspeople) * beleive, create a plugin named (religiouspeople) and then fill it with Christians, Jews, Muslims, Moonies, Branch Davidians, Vegans and so on.
You could also create plugins for ism and ist words. It would probably be tough to complete, but you could get a few dozen of the most common words and it'll work 95% of the time.
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