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

Hi Stuart I'm going to be editing your SCUBA Regulators entry

http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/classic/A842997

it's a subject I'm unfamiliar with so I'll be popping back and forward for advice

EmilyXX

Hi Emily,

Nice to hear from you. I hope I can resolve any queries you may have.

Best Wishes

Stuart

Hey Stuart,

Couple of things

"Enter the two-stage regulator. The first stage is again clamped to the pillar valve on top of the cylinder, connected by a single hose, called an intermediate pressure hose, to the second stage, which is incorporated into the mouthpiece. A piston valve replaces the diaphragm in the first stage. This is set up to deliver air to the intermediate pressure hose at approximately six bars above ambient pressure. The second stage contains a diaphragm and lever arrangement similar to the old single stage regulator described above. Exhaust gasses are vented straight to the water."

really confused me and as you can see I've rearranged it a little, I have absolutely no idea about SCUBA gear so I'm trying to do as little as possible.

actually that's it, there's a few grammatical bits, but it's a good entry and I've had to do very little to it.

EmilyXX

I noticed on your page it said you worked with computers in the army, thus explaining the double spacing between full stops.

I was taught to do that last year, don't often remember it though. Amazing how little things like that can bring back information...and make you wonder if you remembered to do it in the exam

Anyway that was a very silly observation

Hi Serendipity

The Edited version looks fine. Although what the difference between:

The diaphragm in the first stage is replaced by a piston valve.

and:

A piston valve replaces the diaphragm in the first stage.

escapes me. But then that is perhaps why I’m not a sub-editor and your are.

Yes, I did learn to type in the Army - on an Olivetti 600. Long before spell checkers and grammer checkers were invented. It is surprising that most of the typing conventions used in commercial life to-day first saw the light of day in the military. Like the practice of eliminating full stops between abbreviations and commas after address lines. Makes the typist job that much easier. Took civilians about ten years to catch up.

I did remember to insert double spaces in the exams, but it was the spelling that let me down.

Not so much a silly observation, but a very astute one.

Best wishes

Stuart

don't worry my spelling's pants, the re-ordering was just me being pernickety, to me it sounded a little better. Seemed to flow a little better like that, but it tells you the same information


It's a good entry though, very enlightening, and there really hasn't been a lot needing done to it, and like I say, if it wasn't good enough the sub-ed wouldn't have it.

I did Administration last year (5th year of High school in Scotland, I'm now in my final year going through the process of filling in university applications ) it was a great course, I learnt a lot about computers and styling and it was one of the reason I applied to be a sub-ed, the 4 entries I'm editing is only my second batch as I've only been a sub-editor for about three weeks.

Anyway glad you approve of the changes

EmilyXX

Hi Stuart, very quick query about the entry as I'm almost done with it.

"If the regulator was adjusted to provide air at the correct pressure a depth, it meant that breathing at shallow depths was difficult, the diver having to suck that little bit harder to get air."

"at the correct pressure a depth,"

was this meant to go into something else or is a word missing?

Hi Emily,

Whoops! It surprising how these little typos can conceal themselves. It should read:

"If the regulator was adjusted to provide air at the correct pressure at a deeper depth"

Hope this makes more sense.

Best wishes

Stuart

that makes a lot more sense, thanks Stuart