[mb-style] Re: [Clean up CSG] Typography (was: Capitalization (and placement))

[David K. Gasaway]

Bogdan Butnaru wrote:
> On Jan 30, 2008 11:30 PM, David K. Gasaway <dave at gasaway.org> wrote:
>> There's not much point in type without print.  Well, okay .. things
>> may have evolved slightly since computers. ;)
> 
> We might have a mindset-difference here. I consider what I read right
>  now on my computer _is_ type. 

Heh.  Did you miss the second part of my reply?

> But some typographical conventions (eg, use endash 
> for intervals and emdash for parenthetic separation) are context 
> independent, and that's what we're dealing with here. 

In my mind, the only reason for different dashes is to improve readability of text in print (be it physical or virtual) and may or may not be appropriate in a data context.

>> If that's the only issue we're looking at, I'd say
>> there must be better technical solutions (even quick-and-dirty
>> ones) than "correct typography".
> 
> Absolutely, but in the mean time, we have to pick a standard, and we 
> might as well pick the right one.

Are you saying typography is the correct solution to separating the parts of a title?

>> That's a lofty goal given the open, collaborative nature of
>> MusicBrainz.
> 
> I'm not sure I understand you correctly. 

You didn't understand - I was simply admiring your optimism. ;)

> I don't agree. It's actually easier than capitalization, because you 
> don't need to understand what it says, you just need to know the 
> quotes used for each language. 

Fair enough, I stated my argument incorrectly.  What I should have said is it requires more *learning* on the part of the users.  Most users are already going to understand title case, but not many are going to already understand typographical rules.

> You mention in a later post that correct typography is harder to 
> interpret correctly. Do you think the correct typography in any of
> the things below is harder to interpret?

Harder to interpret the rules, not harder to interpret a title following typographical rules.

-- 
-:-:- David K. Gasaway
-:-:- Email: dave at gasaway.org
-:-:- Web  : dave.gasaway.org