Re: virus: pop quiz #14

Wade T.Smith (wade_smith@harvard.edu)
Thu, 20 May 1999 12:23:40 -0400

On 5/20/99 11:43, David McFadzean said this-

>Prescriptive is to Descriptive as Normative is to __________?

Well, I had to look up 'normative' - Of, relating to, or prescribing a norm or standard.

...and 'prescriptive' - Sanctioned or authorized by long-standing custom or usage.

...and 'descriptive' was not in my dictionary, the American Heritage computer version, third edition, but a description is a representation, and

'representative' is - Representing, depicting, or portraying or able to do so.

So, your question becomes- "Long-standing usage is to the description of what is really there as what the usual usage of a standard is to some analog of 'descriptive'"

And, as such, I don't think the analogy is worthwhile.....

but, yes, 'informative' is almost there....