Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site arizona.UUCP
Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!duke!unc!mcnc!budd@arizona.UUCP (tim budd)
From: budd@arizona.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.math
Subject: except this note
Message-ID: <4683@arizona.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 16-Sep-83 20:59:19 EDT
Article-I.D.: arizona.4683
Posted: Fri Sep 16 20:59:19 1983
Date-Received: Sat, 17-Sep-83 19:00:57 EDT
Organization: CS Dept, U of Arizona, Tucson
Lines: 19

I was most puzzled by the first sentence of ihuxr!lew's posting:

"I can except the explanation..."

Did he mean he can draw an exception to it, that there is an exception
of the analysis it was in response to, or what?  After rejecting several
alternative explanations, I decided the most reasonable one was that
ihuxr!lew just didn't know the difference between "except" and "accept".

As an aid to ihuxr!lew and other net readers who may have the same
problem, I herewith reproduce a simple rule you can use to help remember
which word is appropriate in any situation (this was told to me by my
colleague Gary Levin).  Whenever in doubt, remember the following examples:

except:  All mem are fallible, except the Pope.
accept:  All mem are fallible, accept the Pope.

(for those who don't believe humor belongs anywhere but net.jokes,
I will herewith affix the official "this is humor" stamp: :-> ).