Is “remove commented out code” correct English?
As a programmer, I often use the term "Remove commented out code" as a commit message when checking in code. I wonder whether this is correct English.
To use an example outside the realm of programming, consider these two phrases for contrast:
"Help the poor people"
"Help the left behind people"
The first seems reasonable, while the second sounds clunky. Is it grammatically correct? I assume it could be said better.
What about my initial example? Is there a better way to phrase it or is it ok?
expressions
asked 4 hours ago
CernoCerno
1283
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As a programmer, I often use the term "Remove commented out code" as a commit message when checking in code. I wonder whether this is correct English.
To use an example outside the realm of programming, consider these two phrases for contrast:
"Help the poor people"
"Help the left behind people"
The first seems reasonable, while the second sounds clunky. Is it grammatically correct? I assume it could be said better.
What about my initial example? Is there a better way to phrase it or is it ok?
expressions
asked 4 hours ago
CernoCerno
1283
New contributor
Cerno is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
1
I think your audience will know exactly what you mean, which is the crucial criterion for a commit message. Beyond that, I don't know of any more descriptive adjective than "commented-out".
– user888379
4 hours ago
As a non-native speaker I tend to overthink these things. However, my focus was not on the term "commented-out" but specifically the combination with the verb "remove" as it sounds a bit like Denglish to me (incorrect usage of English based on German grammar).
– Cerno
3 hours ago
It would be typical of communications between computer nerds. The anal retentive ones, however, might insist on hyphenating "commented-out".
– Hot Licks
47 mins ago
add a comment |
As a programmer, I often use the term "Remove commented out code" as a commit message when checking in code. I wonder whether this is correct English.
To use an example outside the realm of programming, consider these two phrases for contrast:
"Help the poor people"
"Help the left behind people"
The first seems reasonable, while the second sounds clunky. Is it grammatically correct? I assume it could be said better.
What about my initial example? Is there a better way to phrase it or is it ok?
expressions
asked 4 hours ago
CernoCerno
1283
New contributor
Cerno is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
As a programmer, I often use the term "Remove commented out code" as a commit message when checking in code. I wonder whether this is correct English.
To use an example outside the realm of programming, consider these two phrases for contrast:
"Help the poor people"
"Help the left behind people"
The first seems reasonable, while the second sounds clunky. Is it grammatically correct? I assume it could be said better.
What about my initial example? Is there a better way to phrase it or is it ok?
expressions
expressions
asked 4 hours ago
CernoCerno
1283
New contributor
Cerno is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 4 hours ago
CernoCerno
1283
New contributor
Cerno is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 4 hours ago
CernoCerno
1283
New contributor
Cerno is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 4 hours ago
CernoCerno
1283
asked 4 hours ago
CernoCerno
1283
1283
New contributor
Cerno is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
Cerno is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Cerno is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
1
I think your audience will know exactly what you mean, which is the crucial criterion for a commit message. Beyond that, I don't know of any more descriptive adjective than "commented-out".
– user888379
4 hours ago
As a non-native speaker I tend to overthink these things. However, my focus was not on the term "commented-out" but specifically the combination with the verb "remove" as it sounds a bit like Denglish to me (incorrect usage of English based on German grammar).
– Cerno
3 hours ago
It would be typical of communications between computer nerds. The anal retentive ones, however, might insist on hyphenating "commented-out".
– Hot Licks
47 mins ago
add a comment |
1
I think your audience will know exactly what you mean, which is the crucial criterion for a commit message. Beyond that, I don't know of any more descriptive adjective than "commented-out".
– user888379
4 hours ago
As a non-native speaker I tend to overthink these things. However, my focus was not on the term "commented-out" but specifically the combination with the verb "remove" as it sounds a bit like Denglish to me (incorrect usage of English based on German grammar).
– Cerno
3 hours ago
It would be typical of communications between computer nerds. The anal retentive ones, however, might insist on hyphenating "commented-out".
– Hot Licks
47 mins ago
1
1
I think your audience will know exactly what you mean, which is the crucial criterion for a commit message. Beyond that, I don't know of any more descriptive adjective than "commented-out".
– user888379
4 hours ago
I think your audience will know exactly what you mean, which is the crucial criterion for a commit message. Beyond that, I don't know of any more descriptive adjective than "commented-out".
– user888379
4 hours ago
As a non-native speaker I tend to overthink these things. However, my focus was not on the term "commented-out" but specifically the combination with the verb "remove" as it sounds a bit like Denglish to me (incorrect usage of English based on German grammar).
– Cerno
3 hours ago
As a non-native speaker I tend to overthink these things. However, my focus was not on the term "commented-out" but specifically the combination with the verb "remove" as it sounds a bit like Denglish to me (incorrect usage of English based on German grammar).
– Cerno
3 hours ago
It would be typical of communications between computer nerds. The anal retentive ones, however, might insist on hyphenating "commented-out".
– Hot Licks
47 mins ago
It would be typical of communications between computer nerds. The anal retentive ones, however, might insist on hyphenating "commented-out".
– Hot Licks
47 mins ago
add a comment |
1 Answer
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There is a better way to phrase it, but it's also OK. That is to say, in contexts other than a commit message, you would probably want to rewrite the sentence, but for an internal note, it's fine.
The main issue with the sentence is that you're using commented out as a compound adjective and so you should probably hyphenate the phrase: "Remove the commented-out code." Hyphenation would also improve your last example sentence: "Help the left-behind people" is better, but "Help the people who were left behind" is better still.
If I were trying to express the idea of your commit message in a more formal context, a context where prose style is important, or really any context without a strict and low character limit, I would write, "Remove the code which was commented out."
answered 3 hours ago
JuhaszJuhasz
2,9031513
Thanks a lot, that was exactly what I was looking for, both from the perspective of a commit message and a more embellished version, thanks!
– Cerno
3 hours ago
add a comment |
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1 Answer
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1 Answer
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There is a better way to phrase it, but it's also OK. That is to say, in contexts other than a commit message, you would probably want to rewrite the sentence, but for an internal note, it's fine.
The main issue with the sentence is that you're using commented out as a compound adjective and so you should probably hyphenate the phrase: "Remove the commented-out code." Hyphenation would also improve your last example sentence: "Help the left-behind people" is better, but "Help the people who were left behind" is better still.
If I were trying to express the idea of your commit message in a more formal context, a context where prose style is important, or really any context without a strict and low character limit, I would write, "Remove the code which was commented out."
answered 3 hours ago
JuhaszJuhasz
2,9031513
Thanks a lot, that was exactly what I was looking for, both from the perspective of a commit message and a more embellished version, thanks!
– Cerno
3 hours ago
add a comment |
There is a better way to phrase it, but it's also OK. That is to say, in contexts other than a commit message, you would probably want to rewrite the sentence, but for an internal note, it's fine.
The main issue with the sentence is that you're using commented out as a compound adjective and so you should probably hyphenate the phrase: "Remove the commented-out code." Hyphenation would also improve your last example sentence: "Help the left-behind people" is better, but "Help the people who were left behind" is better still.
If I were trying to express the idea of your commit message in a more formal context, a context where prose style is important, or really any context without a strict and low character limit, I would write, "Remove the code which was commented out."
answered 3 hours ago
JuhaszJuhasz
2,9031513
Thanks a lot, that was exactly what I was looking for, both from the perspective of a commit message and a more embellished version, thanks!
– Cerno
3 hours ago
add a comment |
There is a better way to phrase it, but it's also OK. That is to say, in contexts other than a commit message, you would probably want to rewrite the sentence, but for an internal note, it's fine.
The main issue with the sentence is that you're using commented out as a compound adjective and so you should probably hyphenate the phrase: "Remove the commented-out code." Hyphenation would also improve your last example sentence: "Help the left-behind people" is better, but "Help the people who were left behind" is better still.
If I were trying to express the idea of your commit message in a more formal context, a context where prose style is important, or really any context without a strict and low character limit, I would write, "Remove the code which was commented out."
answered 3 hours ago
JuhaszJuhasz
2,9031513
There is a better way to phrase it, but it's also OK. That is to say, in contexts other than a commit message, you would probably want to rewrite the sentence, but for an internal note, it's fine.
The main issue with the sentence is that you're using commented out as a compound adjective and so you should probably hyphenate the phrase: "Remove the commented-out code." Hyphenation would also improve your last example sentence: "Help the left-behind people" is better, but "Help the people who were left behind" is better still.
If I were trying to express the idea of your commit message in a more formal context, a context where prose style is important, or really any context without a strict and low character limit, I would write, "Remove the code which was commented out."
answered 3 hours ago
JuhaszJuhasz
2,9031513
answered 3 hours ago
JuhaszJuhasz
2,9031513
answered 3 hours ago
JuhaszJuhasz
2,9031513
answered 3 hours ago
JuhaszJuhasz
2,9031513
2,9031513
Thanks a lot, that was exactly what I was looking for, both from the perspective of a commit message and a more embellished version, thanks!
– Cerno
3 hours ago
add a comment |
Thanks a lot, that was exactly what I was looking for, both from the perspective of a commit message and a more embellished version, thanks!
– Cerno
3 hours ago
Thanks a lot, that was exactly what I was looking for, both from the perspective of a commit message and a more embellished version, thanks!
– Cerno
3 hours ago
Thanks a lot, that was exactly what I was looking for, both from the perspective of a commit message and a more embellished version, thanks!
– Cerno
3 hours ago
add a comment |
Cerno is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
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1
I think your audience will know exactly what you mean, which is the crucial criterion for a commit message. Beyond that, I don't know of any more descriptive adjective than "commented-out".
– user888379
4 hours ago
As a non-native speaker I tend to overthink these things. However, my focus was not on the term "commented-out" but specifically the combination with the verb "remove" as it sounds a bit like Denglish to me (incorrect usage of English based on German grammar).
– Cerno
3 hours ago
It would be typical of communications between computer nerds. The anal retentive ones, however, might insist on hyphenating "commented-out".
– Hot Licks
47 mins ago