Probably "not installed" would be a less confusing status.


On 17 January 2014 10:53, Thien-Thi Nguyen <ttn@gnu.org> wrote:

> () Sivaram Neelakantan <nsivaram.net@gmail.com>
> () Fri, 17 Jan 2014 10:26:57 +0530
>
>    Why use the word 'available' instead of 'install'?
>
> Short answer:
> Mixing adjectives and verbs is inelegant.  Too, verbs portend entropy.
>
> Long answer:
> Both "available" and "installed" are adjectives (of same length --
> green-screen bonus!).  Adjectives are suitable for describing things.
>
> The word "install" is a verb, i.e., names an action.  Other actions
> might be "uninstall", "remove", "leave-be", "gripe", "recommend",
> "ponder", "examine", "reinstall", etc.  To my eyes, the "etc" is most
> important; it implies a need for (detailed) documentation, and the
> feeping creature of hyperlinks.
>
> Whimsical answer:
> do be do be do,
> be do be do be!
> in my heart i knew
> that two requires three?
>
> --
> Thien-Thi Nguyen
>    GPG key: 4C807502
>    (if you're human and you know it)
>       read my lisp: (responsep (questions 'technical)
>                                (not (via 'mailing-list)))
>                      => nil
>