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Wikipedia talk:Wikipedia Signpost/2006-05-29/Semi-protection

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Title

[edit]

"Semi-protection tweaks prompt debate over ideals" is the kind of title about which jokes are made. Read it like so:

  • (Semi-protection tweaks) prompt (debate over ideals)
  • (Semi-protection) tweaks (prompt debate over ideals)

Why is the debate so prompt? How did semi-protection tweak the debate? Headlines like this are notably difficult for non-native English speakers to read. The thoroughly confused might try to parse it with debate as the verb, and wonder who the semi-protection tweaks are who are prompt(ly) debating. Or is the debate over?

A better headline would be:

  • Semi-protection modifications lead to debate about principles
  • Semi-protection changed, leading to debate over ideals

These would be somewhat more readable without reparsing. --FOo 05:30, 30 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Call me odd, but it parses fine for me. Ral315 (talk) 06:17, 30 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]