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[Python-Dev] _length_cue()

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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