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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. >>> <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> >>