0

If this edit had gone through a review, it would probably be rejected as "too minor" (there, I "misused backticks" again).

What gives?

Edit: Just to clarify, is there really only one way to write file size suffixes? Not even Google gives a clear answer:

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
7

The edit wasn't only about whitespace. It corrected two things:

  • Anything that's not a shell command or some kind of code should not be in backticks. The Erase free space should have probably been Erase free space or "Erase free space". Folks really don't like to see this, as it distracts from the content and is just syntactically wrong.

  • Unit suffixes should be spaced. This is the norm for SI units, and while GB etc. aren't SI units, the same could apply here. But editing a post just to change from "4GB" to "4 GB" would be unnecessary.

The rules for "too minor" edits are less strict for users with edit privileges. We review edits for users <2k to have them work hard for their privilege, but after that, minor edits are fine unless they come in masses.

Even if a little minor, the edit shouldn't have been rolled back.

7
  • I agree on the backticks, I should have found a better way to highlight the mentioned function. However, file sizes with/without spaces is not that simple: "4 GB", 110 m hits. "4GB", 320 m hits.
    – TFM
    Commented Feb 6, 2013 at 22:43
  • SI units should always be spaced, except for angular degrees. Granted, GB aren't SI units, but still. Maybe the majority has it wrong? :) (Though the real issue here for me is the backticks, honestly).
    – slhck Mod
    Commented Feb 6, 2013 at 23:04
  • I agree on the SI units, that's the way it should be, but I follow what other people are using when it comes to MB:s and GB:s, as I'm using it everyday at my work when I discuss stuff with hardware vendors. They are not doing it differently. I'm guessing that people are treating MB as a SI unit as well, which it isn't.
    – TFM
    Commented Feb 6, 2013 at 23:11
  • Yes, and if somebody edited a question just to change the spacing between non-standardized unit suffixes, it'd be questionable. But to tell the truth: We have no style guide here on SU. Just apply common sense—I don't think it's such a big deal. The random word highlights are more problematic.
    – slhck Mod
    Commented Feb 6, 2013 at 23:17
  • I agree on both. Thanks for your input!
    – TFM
    Commented Feb 6, 2013 at 23:20
  • @TFM Quick comment on that edit of mine (didn't see this meta post until now). For any non-scientific writing I usually refer to Wikipedia's Manual of Style for guidance; it recommends a space between values and unit symbols, and not just for SI units. Admittedly, this is a bit of a pet peeve of mine and I tend to correct this when copyediting posts, but in this case, as slhck explained, the main point of the edit was to remove the misuse of backticks. I agree that on its own the whitespace change would have been too minor.
    – Indrek
    Commented Feb 15, 2013 at 2:16
  • @Indrek: I must admit that the usage of Wikipedia's Manual of Style is very (very) wise. However, I deal with many representatives from major hardware vendors. Nothing we and they write includes space between MBs and GBs. I dare NOT to change that. But I'm fine with your edit.
    – TFM
    Commented Feb 18, 2013 at 23:41

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .