Thanks Chris!
I have another question. I am not sure how I can introduce the fact that
I use certain terms that are potentially interchangeable in my document.
Would the following be sufficient to clarify two terms?
--
The terms ''activities`` and ''tasks`` are used interchangeable in
this thesis. For example, when we refer to an agent that performs
an activity, we may as well say that an agent performs a task.
--
cheers, Chris
Chris Croughton wrote:
> On Sun, 26 Mar 2006 11:38:18 +1100, cguttman
> <4everclever4@web.de> wrote:
>
>
>>Hello,
>>
>>would it be correct to write:
>>
>>--
>>In the light of these basic system characteristics, building agent
>>systems that collaborate as well as humans do, proves to be a
>>difficult problem.
>>--
>>
>>Are the commas set correctly?
>
>
> The first comma is correct, as it delimits an initial phrase which can
> be removed without altering the meaning of the second.
>
> The second part is a complete phrase, if we remove the first part we
> would get the incorrect:
>
>
>>Building agent systems that collaborate as well as humans do, proves
>>to be a difficult problem.
>
>
> Thus the second comma is not needed and should be removed:
>
>
>>In the light of these basic system characteristics, building agent
>>systems that collaborate as well as humans do proves to be a
>>difficult problem.
>
>
> One could also parenthesise (with () or with commas) as follows:
>
>
>>In the light of these basic system characteristics, building agent
>>systems that collaborate, as well as humans do, proves to be a
>>difficult problem.
>
>
> or
>
>
>>In the light of these basic system characteristics, building agent
>>systems that collaborate (as well as humans do) proves to be a
>>difficult problem.
>
>
> However that sets off "as well as humans do" as a qualifier, with an
> implication that humans aren't very good at it and the agent systems
> can't be expected to do any better, which may not be what you mean.
>
> Chris C
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