User talk:Rothorpe

Hermes

I'm looking at a few edits to Hermes. Is this edit correct, adding a space after text and before the ref? [1] Also, what do you think of the sentence about God and messenger two edits after this by the same editor? CorinneSD (talk) 02:48, 24 July 2015 (UTC) Another space added here: [2] CorinneSD (talk) 02:51, 24 July 2015 (UTC)

• The chief office of the God was as messenger.

Strange. CorinneSD (talk) 02:49, 24 July 2015 (UTC)

You're right, there should be no space before the reference. As for the office, perhaps Hermes the messenger was into bureaucratspeak. But these days something less pompous would be in order. Rothorpe (talk) 03:01, 24 July 2015 (UTC)

I wonder whether there is something in MOS that we can point to regarding the spacing. If not, would you mind reverting, or re-adding the space, and just write that "There should be no space before a ref."?

Regarding the sentence, how about:

Hermes' main role was as the messenger god.

I'm a little surprised that this kind of sentence needs to be added to the article at this point. I'm too tired to read the article now, but I should think something like this is already there. CorinneSD (talk) 03:05, 24 July 2015 (UTC)

Yes, the MOS is quite specific, so I'll deal with that now. 'The messenger of the Gods' is the phrase I'm used to, so I'd just say 'Hermes was...' if it's necessary to say anything. Rothorpe (talk) 03:07, 24 July 2015 (UTC)

Looking again, I agree, 'main role' is very good. Rothorpe (talk) 03:22, 24 July 2015 (UTC)

Myotis escalerai

Hello, Rothorpe! - I just glanced at the beginning of today's featured article, Myotis escalerai. I intend to read it later, but I wondered about something in the first sentence:

• Myotis escalerai is a European bat, found in Spain (including the Balearic Islands), Portugal, and far southern France.

What do you think of "far southern France"? I haven't heard that before. Perhaps it would be better as just "southern France" or "in the far south of France". CorinneSD (talk) 19:07, 27 July 2015 (UTC)

Oh, I think it's OK, and shorter than the alternative. Rothorpe (talk) 00:31, 28 July 2015 (UTC)

O.K. I was thinking it would be more accurate to say either on the Mediterranean coast of France or in the foothills of the Pyrenees (or French Alps), unless it's both, but I'm not going to pursue it further. Bats are not my favorite subject. CorinneSD (talk) 15:36, 28 July 2015 (UTC)

'Far southern France', it has a poetic ring. Rothorpe (talk) 16:31, 28 July 2015 (UTC)

Yes, or northerners describing how far away it is. ;) CorinneSD (talk) 00:52, 29 July 2015 (UTC)

And how lovely and warm compared with chilly Rouen. Rothorpe (talk) 02:19, 29 July 2015 (UTC)

John Muir

What do you think of this edit to John Muir [3], as well as the two subsequent edits by the same editor? CorinneSD (talk) 23:23, 29 July 2015 (UTC)

Getting further into hot water! The original is much neater, yes; I'd revert the lot. Rothorpe (talk) 23:55, 29 July 2015 (UTC)

How did you know I've been editing Bath, Somerset? ;) CorinneSD (talk) 01:41, 30 July 2015 (UTC)

Did I know that? What makes you ask? I've probably followed you somewhere, I don't remember. I had my last job in Bath, but that's presumably a coincidence as it was long ago. Rothorpe (talk) 02:18, 30 July 2015 (UTC)

When I read "getting further into hot water!", I knew (or thought I knew) you meant that with each subsequent edit, that editor was making things worse, but since I had just finished reading the article on Bath, and the hot baths there, I decided to tease you. CorinneSD (talk) 16:34, 30 July 2015 (UTC)

Indeed, the power of coincidence! Rothorpe (talk) 22:53, 30 July 2015 (UTC)

Linguistic relativity and the color naming debate

It's not a big deal, but what do you think of this edit to Linguistic relativity and the color naming debate? [4] I'm not sure the "and" is needed. CorinneSD (talk) 14:07, 31 July 2015 (UTC)

Well, perhaps it is for people like me, who had never heard of blonde wood. Rothorpe (talk) 15:35, 31 July 2015 (UTC)

I had. It's very light-colored wood. CorinneSD (talk) 02:36, 1 August 2015 (UTC) If you look at the sampler of wood at the beginning of the article on Wood, you'll see three that you could call blonde: Spruce, Aspen and Linden, or at least Aspen and Linden, but sometimes maple can be blonde, too. CorinneSD (talk) 02:38, 1 August 2015 (UTC)

Thanks, yes, I was aware of the fact, but I don't think I'd ever heard the phrase. I think I'd have called it 'pale'. (Sips non-blonde tea, as the milk is off; interesting that the default spelling is the feminine. [Pace the article on the word, Blond, where one can find the expression "blond women", which looks incorrect to me.]) Rothorpe (talk) 03:16, 1 August 2015 (UTC)

Well, "blond" is the adjective and "blonde" is the noun when referring to a person: She's a blond woman, but She's a blonde. When referring to wood, "blonde" is an adjective. A little confusing. CorinneSD (talk) 03:53, 1 August 2015 (UTC) Well, I'm not sure about that. Perhaps it should be "blond wood". I got confused by your initial comment, above. I'd have to look into the use for wood, but I'm too tired now. CorinneSD (talk) 03:55, 1 August 2015 (UTC)

Interesting, I'd never come across that distinction. Awaiting your researches. Rothorpe (talk) 15:44, 1 August 2015 (UTC)

Mendip Hills

Hello, Rothorpe! I'm copy-editing the article on the Mendip Hills, and I have a few questions for you.

1) In the fourth paragraph of the lede is the following sentence:

• A wide range of outdoor sports and leisure activities take place in the Mendips, many based on the particular geology of the area.

I would have thought the verb, "take place" should be in the singular because the subject is "a wide range". However, I thought perhaps this was one of those words which in British English could be used in a plural sense. If not, I've got to change the verb.

2) Just a little below that is a word, "hillwalkers", which I've never seen before. I suppose it is an acceptable word in England or it wouldn't be there, but I wonder whether it should be a single unhyphenated word, a hyphenated word, or two separate words.

3) A little below that I see "the Mendip Way and Limestone Link". Do you think "Limestone Link" should be preceded by "the"? CorinneSD (talk) 22:54, 4 August 2015 (UTC)