🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <6819@npri6.npri.com>
eric@npri6.npri.com (Eric Williams) writes:
 
>For instance, asign reads:
>
>        "No smoking section inside."
>
>This can be interpreted as 1) there are multiple seating sections, one
>of which is for non-smokers; 2) no smokers allowed at all.
>The implied result is that non-smokers will always be accommodated.
>I know this is just semantic fuzziness, but I thought it was fun
>enough that someone might have labelled it. Email your thoughts to
>me, as my net-days are numbered (under a dozen).
>
Classifying this kind of statement as "just semantic fuzziness"
tends to dismiss further evidence of a lack of concern on the
part of many people (in this case the writer of the sign) for
clarity in use of the language. It is the kind of thing about
which all of us should be more careful.
 
In this case, insertion of a hyphen to create "no-smoking section
inside" would eliminate confusion and indicate that the place
contains sections for both smokers and non-smokers.
 
Eddie Blick
Journalism Department
Louisiana Tech University