Re: [PATCH] Various source cleanup/enhancements

[Alan Modra <amodra at bigpond dot net dot au>]

On Mon, Dec 03, 2001 at 01:59:46PM -0800, Eric Christopher wrote:
> On Mon, 2001-12-03 at 13:57, Alan Modra wrote:
> > On Mon, Dec 03, 2001 at 01:47:04PM -0800, Eric Christopher wrote:
> > > Ok except for these.  Make sure they are capitals before checking in :)
> > 
> > Err, the standard (from gcc) for error messages is as Thiemo had it.
> > This text is prefixed with "Error: " so it doesn't start a sentence, and
> > thus should not start with a capital.
> 
> Ah ha.  Thanks :)

BTW, I'm not too sure about the rationale I gave regarding not starting
a sentence.  That opinion was just parroted from someone on the gcc list.
I'd say the text following the colon _is_ the start of a new sentence,
but I don't want to get into grammar wars.  :)

http://www.gnu.org/prep/standards_15.html#SEC15 says

"The string message should not begin with a capital letter when it follows
a program name and/or file name.  Also, it should not end with a period.

Error messages from interactive programs, and other messages such as usage
messages, should start with a capital letter.  But they should not end
with a period."