h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Everything you ever wanted to know about writing an Entry. This will be useful for newbies in years to come, just remember not to delete your original PR-version of "Talking to Cats"

Gnomon, well written

GB

Thank you. Good point; I'll make sure not to delete it.

Well done - a really accessible guide. I really hope it inspires a Researcher or two to have a go.

Icy

When it's recommended, add something like "Peer Review version - do not delete" to the title, can't remember how I got that inspiration, but still, it's a failsafe

It seems I picked a good subject. I originally hoped to put it into Peer Review this morning (Thursday) to coincide with the publishing of the Post, but then I realised I couldn't put a link to it unless I submitted it on Sunday evening. So it's had a few days to gather comments.

I think the way you've done it is perfect

It's a good job your subject wasn't particle physics or space-related or

I'm working on one about Archimedes and ancient Greek mathematics.

As I said, the entry was a great idea

"This will be useful for newbies in years to come"
I agree...but what would I know .

Since this article seems destined to be a valuable source of inspiration (perhaps even linked to a Help Page), I wonder if it's worth tidying up just a little?

For instance, the following sentence is missing a word:


I think it would be worthwhile.

This is so....systematic! I don't think I'd ever get an Entry done if I worked like that

I enjoyed reading that, and have found it useful .

It has given me the enthusiasm to have a go .

Nigel

Gnomon, I've changed that to: ...the entire entry...

Hope that's OK.

Bel

I wouldn't have changed it myself. It's supposed to be written in casual English, and "the entire of the entry" sounds ok to me as casual Irish English. But that's OK. If it grates on someone's nerves there's no harm in changing it.

I've never heard "the entire of" - "the entirety of", yes, or "the whole of", but "the entire of" doesn't work gramatically

Doesn't mean it's not used, but it would confuse me

I hadn't heard it before, but now I know it's an Irish expression rather than a typo it doesn't grate at all.

Well, the phrase may not be specifically Irish. I just meant it sounds ok to me. A quick Google search shows 46,000 places on the web where the phrase is used.

That's odd. My Google search for "the entire of the" produced just 25,100 results - "the entirety of the" scored 1,620,000.

I have learned something else today; the word 'entire', used as a noun, can also refer to "an uncastrated adult male horse".

"Do not go gentle into that good night"

There's a joke that fell flat on its face. I understood the word "gentle" to also mean to castrate, but none of the online dictionaries give this meaning.

I don't think I could eat an entire horse

The OED lists the noun as Gnomon uses it, but says of it "In recent use somewhat rare."