On this subject, there is an excellent publication: 'Suggestions to
Authors of the Repports of the United States Geological Survey' by
Wallace R. Hansen (Editor). It is from 1991, though, but a suggestion
would be to update it, (perhaps also bilingual) and make it available
as electronic media.
Gianna Garda.
> On Feb 17, 2010, at 4:01 AM, Reinoud Vissers wrote:
>
>> Hi there,
>>
>> I fully agree that our terminology should be precise, but also
>> agree that some developments can't hardly be stopped.
>>
>> As a reviewer I would accept terms as lithology to indicate an
>> association of rocks, and stratigraphy to refer to a sequence of
>> sedimentary rocks. I do not accept expressions as: "the structural
>> geology of the area..." and change that into: "the structure of
>> the area. "mineralogy" is indeed increasingly used to refer to
>> mineral compositions and seems to be at the edge.
>>
>> Re. Prof Clemens reaction: phenomena is indeed the plural for
>> phenomenon, and phenomenas is clearly incorrect. The issue of the
>> word "data" seems different though. My New Oxford American
>> Dictionary build in my MacBook Pro says about "data":
>>
>> USAGE Data was originally the plural of the Latin word : datum,
>> 'something (e.g., a piece of information) given.' Data is now used
>> as a singular where it means 'information': : this data was
>> prepared for the conference. It is used as a plural in technical
>> contexts and when the collection of bits of information is
>> stressed: : all recent data on hurricanes are being compared.
>> Avoid : datas and : datae, which are false plurals, neither
>> English nor Latin
>>
>> So data seems to be accepted as single as well as plural depending
>> on the context.
>>
>> Prof. Dr. R.L.M. Vissers
>> Department of Earth Sciences
>> Faculty of Geosciences, Utrecht University
>> PO Box 80.021
>> 3508 TA Utrecht - Netherlands
>> Tel. 0031-30-2535051
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> On 17 feb 2010, at 09:54, Prof. J. D. Clemens wrote:
>>
>>> I agree whole-heartedly.
>>>
>>>> John,
>>>>
>>>> The way some of these terms are used is perhaps borderline, I
>>>> agree. But some people have no problem talking about "lithologies
>>>> in area X" when they simply mean rock types. Sorry, but that is
>>>> just plain silly.
>>>>
>>>> Juergen
>>>>
>>>> Please find our Email Disclaimer here-->: http://www.ukzn.ac.za/disclaimer
>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>>
>>> Prof. John D. Clemens
>>> Executive Head
>>> Dept of Earth Sciences
>>> University of Stellenbosch
>>> Private Bag X1, 7602 Matieland, South Africa
>>> phone: +27 (0)21 808 3159 fax: +27 (0)21 808 3129
>>> http://www.sun.ac.za/geo/people/clemens_e.htm
>>> <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
>>> Our passions cannot alter the facts, only hide them from us.
>>> <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
>>
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