Video & Multimedia

Bernardo de La Paz

(60,320 posts)

8. English is flexible, but it means what it means. And there is always Pope.

Sat Dec 28, 2013, 06:19 PM

Dec 2013

"Why" is a question about purpose.

"How" is a question about means and ways.

You can write "why" when you mean "how", if you like, but it is simply clearer to write "how" when you mean "how" and it will be understood by more readers.

Some readers will pass over a video entitled "Why cats land on their feet" because they will think the answer is rather obvious (which it is). More readers will view a video entitled "How cats land on their feet" because that is a more complex question with a much less obvious answer.

But sorry you got upset when I accidentally corrected you when I thought I was correcting the video.

"A man should never be ashamed to own he has been in the wrong, which is but saying, in other words, that he is wiser today than he was yesterday". Alexander Pope (1688-1744) "Thoughts on Various Subjects", 1706.

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Smarter every day: Slo-mo flipping cats -- Why do cats land on their feet? [View all] 1monster Dec 2013 OP

The answer to "Why" is because it is safer than landing on their back. Bernardo de La Paz Dec 2013 #1

Now that you've shown your superiority... 1monster Dec 2013 #3

(on edit) OK, I get it now. Bernardo de La Paz Dec 2013 #4

Since the English language is very flexible, 1monster Dec 2013 #6

English is flexible, but it means what it means. And there is always Pope. Bernardo de La Paz Dec 2013 #8

"Why do cats fall on their feet?" 1monster Dec 2013 #10

That's how they are able to * choose * to fall on their feet, not * why * they choose to do so. Bernardo de La Paz Dec 2013 #11

didactic 1monster Dec 2013 #17

OMG, the OP is shocked that teaching is happening in their teaching thread. nt Bernardo de La Paz Dec 2013 #18

Here is something that you might find interesting... xocet Dec 2013 #27

Thank you. Hadn't heard of hu-meta construct, & Old English of how and why also interesting. nt Bernardo de La Paz Dec 2013 #28

You're welcome. n/t xocet Dec 2013 #30

Hard to believe cats enjoy this activity. mahannah Dec 2013 #2

I go to work every weekday. I don't enjoy that either. nt valerief Dec 2013 #5

You're a cat? mahannah Dec 2013 #9

He looks like a dog to me Sanity Claws Dec 2013 #20

I don't know if they enjoy it or not, but I was surprised by the cat's willingness 1monster Dec 2013 #7

Next up: Airborn cats from a hose. Spitfire of ATJ Dec 2013 #15

Strap a piece of buttered toast to its back and run a wire... malthaussen Dec 2013 #12

Only if you put the buttered side on the outside Bernardo de La Paz Dec 2013 #13

. . . and an anti-gravity device. tclambert Dec 2013 #21

it's evolutions defense against asshole cat droppers lame54 Dec 2013 #14

LOL!!!!!!!! meti57b Dec 2013 #16

---- 1monster Dec 2013 #19

+11 Hissyspit Dec 2013 #26

Cat coughs up hairballs in "scientist's" bed in 3 . . . 2 . . . 1 . . . tclambert Dec 2013 #22

Cat leaves gift in scientist's shoes n/t TexasBushwhacker Dec 2013 #23

A little something called graviteh Blue Owl Dec 2013 #24

I understand that cats don't always land on their feet n/t ailsagirl Dec 2013 #25

If there ever was a "WTF?" expression... KansDem Dec 2013 #29