Comment 2WMH Re: Maybe I'm a pedant

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Scientists discover the first protein that can edit other proteins

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Maybe I'm a pedant (Score: 1)

by insulatedkiwi@pipedot.org on 2015-01-02 15:23 (#2WME)

I think that the use of can is a bit wrong here, I'd put it as "is used to edit", can seems to imply that it has a choice, or prefers to edit other proteins instead of building up muscles, or causing holes to form in your cerebral tissues.

Yeah, no maybe about it.

Re: Maybe I'm a pedant (Score: 1)

by evilviper@pipedot.org on 2015-01-02 15:54 (#2WMH)

If you're going to complain about wording, you should go to the source.

The word "can" merely specifies the ability. It says nothing, one way or the other, about choice, so I don't know why you would read the word as involving decision-making.

Your preferred wording might instead be read to imply other proteins were known to have the (latent) capability, but perhaps this was just the first observed performing the function.

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