very minor doc bug in 'listsort.txt'

[gyrof]

BPO	1173407
Nosy	@tim-one, @rhettinger, @terryjreedy

^{Note: these values reflect the state of the issue at the time it was migrated and might not reflect the current state.}

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GitHub fields:

assignee = None
closed_at = <Date 2005-03-30.22:24:12.000>
created_at = <Date 2005-03-30.15:42:25.000>
labels = ['docs']
title = "very minor doc bug in 'listsort.txt'"
updated_at = <Date 2005-03-30.22:24:12.000>
user = 'https://bugs.python.org/gyrof'

bugs.python.org fields:

activity = <Date 2005-03-30.22:24:12.000>
actor = 'gyrof'
assignee = 'none'
closed = True
closed_date = None
closer = None
components = ['Documentation']
creation = <Date 2005-03-30.15:42:25.000>
creator = 'gyrof'
dependencies = []
files = []
hgrepos = []
issue_num = 1173407
keywords = []
message_count = 6.0
messages = ['24823', '24824', '24825', '24826', '24827', '24828']
nosy_count = 4.0
nosy_names = ['tim.peters', 'rhettinger', 'terry.reedy', 'gyrof']
pr_nums = []
priority = 'normal'
resolution = 'wont fix'
stage = None
status = 'closed'
superseder = None
type = None
url = 'https://bugs.python.org/issue1173407'
versions = ['Python 2.4']

[gyrof]

Tim Peter's explanation of 'timsort' in the file
'listsort.txt' is just excellent.
I would recommend, however, that all occurrences of
'data is' be replaced by 'data are'.

Just a minor nit.

-gyro

[terryjreedy]

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While I agree that 'data are' when 'data' is used in isolation, I can
see combinations such as 'list data' being equivalent to 'dataset',
which 'is'. So I would have to see examples of context to be sure
I agreed with your recommendation.

In any case, listsort.txt is an optional implementation note and not
part of the official reference docs (and not accessible that I know
of via docs.python.org). Hence, a fix, even if agreed to, would
have very low priority unless Tim or a doc maven got 'bugged' by
it. Are you willing to make a revised file and a diff that would
verify that only appropriate changes were made?

[rhettinger]

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Sorry. Am closing this to eliminate noise from the tracker.
The grammar nit arguable and inconsequential (because it is
not in the main documentation and is readable as-ias).

[gyrof]

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user_id=1249584

It is a very minor issue, but the change is not arguable
from the perspective of correct English grammar.

If I submit a diff, will it (eventually) be reviewed or applied?

-gyro

[tim-one]

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I mentally replaced "data is" by "data are", and disliked how
it read then. So, no, I won't apply such a patch. English
grammar changes over time to match what careful English
speakers actually use, so I'll view this is a crusade to stamp
out effete elitism -- "data are" my ass <wink>.

[gyrof]

Logged In: YES
user_id=1249584

Fair enough. I should have known that Mr. Peters would have
considered this already.

Just-trying-to-make-Python-docs-more-appealing-to-pedants-like-me'ly
yours,
gyro