linux-kernel - Re: [GIT PULL] SCSI fixes for 5.16-rc1

lists.openwall.net		lists / announce owl-users owl-dev john-users john-dev passwdqc-users yescrypt popa3d-users / oss-security kernel-hardening musl sabotage tlsify passwords / crypt-dev xvendor / Bugtraq Full-Disclosure linux-kernel linux-netdev linux-ext4 linux-hardening linux-cve-announce PHC
Open Source and information security mailing list archives

Hash Suite: Windows password security audit tool. GUI, reports in PDF.

[<prev] [next>] [<thread-prev] [thread-next>] [day] [month] [year] [list]

Date:   Fri, 19 Nov 2021 15:07:52 -0500
From:   James Bottomley <James.Bottomley@...senPartnership.com>
To:     Linus Torvalds <torvalds@...ux-foundation.org>
Cc:     Andrew Morton <akpm@...ux-foundation.org>,
        linux-scsi <linux-scsi@...r.kernel.org>,
        linux-kernel <linux-kernel@...r.kernel.org>
Subject: Re: [GIT PULL] SCSI fixes for 5.16-rc1

On Fri, 2021-11-19 at 11:29 -0800, Linus Torvalds wrote:
> On Fri, Nov 19, 2021 at 10:20 AM James Bottomley
> <James.Bottomley@...senpartnership.com> wrote:
> > Six fixes, five in drivers (ufs, qla2xxx, iscsi) and one core
> > change to fix a regression in user space device state setting,
> > which is used by the iscsi daemons to effect device recovery.
> 
> Language nit.

hey your "nit" is that I used an English verb correctly?

> One of the few correct uses of "to effect" - but perhaps best avoided
> just because even native speakers get it wrong. And we have a lot of
> non-native speakers too.

Well, OK, we do the difference between effect and affect in high
school, but I'm happy to use a more neutral phrasing because I do
notice when people get it wrong (I just silently correct internally).

> It might have been clearer to just say "to start device recovery" or
> perhaps just "as part of device recovery". Just to avoid confusion
> with "affect". Which it obviously _also_ does.
> 
> I kept your wording, but this is just a note that maybe commit
> messages should strive to generally use fairly basic English language
> and try to avoid things that are known to trip people up.

I can certainly relate to the need to be clear and unambiguous, but
this is the thin end of the wedge: you'll be telling me I can't use the
subjunctive mood next just because Americans don't understand what it
is ...

James