[Python-Dev] _length_cue() (original) (raw)

Terry Reedy tjreedy at udel.edu
Thu Feb 9 16:39:40 CET 2006

<skip at pobox.com> wrote in message news:17387.21506.776343.95040 at montanaro.dyndns.org...

>>> Might I suggest that at least you consider using "hint" instead of "cue"? ...

Greg> I agree that "hint" is a more precise name. Ditto. In addition, we already have queues. Do we really need to use a homonym that means something entirely different? (Hint: consider the added difficulty for non-native English speakers).

Even as a native English speaker, but without knowing the intended meaning, I did not understand or guess that length_cue meant length_hint. The primary meaning of cue is 'signal to begin some action', with 'hint, suggestion' being a secondary meaning. Even then, I would take it as referring to possible action rather than possible information.

Cue is also short for queue, leading to cue stick (looks like a pigtail, long and tapering) and cue ball.

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