Menu

English correction for replace alert

2008-09-06
2012-11-13
  • DisgruntledGoat

    DisgruntledGoat - 2008-09-06

    "10 tokens are replaced" is not very good English: "are" is present tense and the action has already happened. Also, "token" is an odd word to use, and probably a bit too technical; "occurrences" might be better.

    So the phrase should read "Replaced 10 occurrences" IMO. You ought to have proper English for single replacements as well, i.e. "Replaced 1 occurrence".

    Finally, I'd like to throw in a suggestion for getting rid of the alert itself (which gets in my way), and instead put the text on the status bar at the bottom.

     
    • Sune Marcher

      Sune Marcher - 2008-09-06

      Personally, I'd prefer match(es) to occurrence(s) - shorter and sweeter :)

       
    • Alexander Iljin

      Alexander Iljin - 2008-09-06

      I'd love to see that message moved to the status bar!

       
      • Fool4UAnyway

        Fool4UAnyway - 2008-09-07

        This has been discussed before (and before).

        It's dangerous to have that message on the status bar, because it may just disappear if you have started the replace action and switched to another application. When you return your status bar message may be overwritten by some regular/constant (help) text/hint.

        For specific messages: just use a popup OK message.

         
        • DisgruntledGoat

          DisgruntledGoat - 2008-09-10

          If the message can disappear without the user taking specific action (i.e. typing, clicking or doing some other processing) then that is surely a bug either in Notepad++ or one of its components.

          I think the alert should probably be on by default since it is then obvious to most users. But have an option for the status bar. In my eyes, the alert is an extra click/key press which stops me in my tracks if I'm trying to do a few replaces quickly.

           
        • Rafał

          Rafał - 2008-09-07

          Replace dialog could have its own status bar then.

           
    • Don HO

      Don HO - 2008-09-07

      How about "10 occurrences were replaced"?

      Don

       
      • Idris Samawi Hamid

        Hi Don,

        > How about "10 occurrences were replaced"?

        As someone who writes -- as opposed to codes ;-) -- for a living, may I suggest some possibilities:

        I.

        10 strings replaced in current document
        10 matches replaced in current document
        10 occurrences replaced in current document

        occurrence is too long a word I think. And a complete sentence is not necessary.

        II.

        10 out of 14 strings|matches|occurrences replaced in current document
        1   out of 14 strings|matches|occurrences replaced in current document

        Useful if one skips a few matches.

        III.

        10 strings|matches|occurrences replaced
        1   string|match|occurrence replaced

        Simple, with no verb. Again: No complete sentence necessary here.

        II would require more coding of course. If that's not feasible, then III is the best, and I also agree that 'match' is the best word.

        Best wishes
        Idris