[Lazarus] Error messages: cannot versus can't

[Mark Morgan Lloyd]

Reinier Olislagers wrote:

> Apparently the Microsoft Manual of Style (sorry Giuliano, seem to hit
> only MS references) suggests contractions could hinder comprehesion  for
> non-native speakers, which can IMO indeed be an important factor in
> deciding what to use.

Microsoft's hesitant realisation of the significance of The Internet 
makes me wonder whether they've taken into account that a lot of 
developers and users have by now learnt acceptable Technical English 
from mailing lists.

For non-Technical English 
http://writers.stackexchange.com/questions/3180/what-are-widely-used-uk-english-style-guides 
might have something, but it omits mention of 
http://handbook.reuters.com/ which I believe is well-regarded.

I'll ask elsewhere whether anybody has any technical style guides 
oriented towards UK English, but I suggest that if anybody has any 
contacts in Philips that they might have something knocking around.

-- 
Mark Morgan Lloyd
markMLl .AT. telemetry.co .DOT. uk

[Opinions above are the author's, not those of his employers or colleagues]