branch --bind or branch --bound?

[Algis Kabaila]

On Monday 11 January 2010 18:59:56 Ben Finney wrote:
> Ian Clatworthy <ian.clatworthy at canonical.com> writes:
> > Eli suggested my proposed --bind option for branch be called --bound
> > instead. I don't mind either way. What would new users expect the
> > option to be called?
>
> Sadly I think the English language fails us here. New users are (I
> predict) going to expect whatever word they hear first, *especially* if
> their first language is not English.

Oh, come on! "--bind" means "I want to bind it".  "--bound" tells me it 
probably is already bound - it is an assertion.

(My "first language", whatever that means, is not English and I am a "new 
user"! Thanks for taking the trouble to speak up for me and the likes of me.)

>
> “I want to bind this branch” versus “I want this to be a bound branch”
> is going to determine which spelling the user expects for this option.
> So that just pushes the question back another level, but I think it's
> the more pertinent level at which to ask.

OldAl,
in a cranky mood.

-- 
Algis Kabaila, MEngSc, PhD(Eng)
http://akabaila.pcug.org.au/StructuralAnalysis.pdf