Is the glass half-empty or half-full?

[Terzo]

I believe I have the answer! It all depends on how the glass got to its current state. For example, if you are filling a glass with water and stop then it is half-full. The most recent action was filling the glass, so half-full is the most appropriate description (it has been filled to the half-way point). On the other hand, if you are emptying a glass and stop, it is half-empty(half-emptied). Am I a brilliant idiot, or just the latter?

Of course, you could just say it is both but where the fun in that.



P.S.
When do you decide to hyphenate a word? In the thread title, is it correct to use half-empty/half-full, or should the words be separated by spaces?

 

[rcpratt]

A definitive collection of hyphenation rules does not exist; rather, different manuals of style prescribe different usage guidelines. The rules of style that apply to dashes and hyphens have evolved to support ease of reading in complex constructions; editors often accept deviations from them that will support, rather than hinder, ease of reading.

I think your usage is okay, certainly not required.

 

[techs]

It depends if its beer or water.

 

[sandorski]

There is no Glass.

 

[Ika]

A glass filled with liquid to its halfway point (that is, halfway up the height of the fillable space inside the glass) will seem more "full" than "empty" - this is because when you fill a glass of water to drink, you never fill it up to the tippy top. A glass half full of "drinking water" will be lower than the center point.

This is assuming the glass has straight walls... I don't know what it would be like with increasing radius glasses or Sam Adams style galsses.

 

[SoulAssassin]

Any good engineer will respond the glass is twice as big as it needs to be to contain the given amount of liquid.

 

[GeekDrew]

Any good engineer will respond the glass is twice as big as it needs to be to contain the given amount of liquid.

This.

 

[soulcougher73]

This is how ive always thought of it and i first thought of this when i was like 10. So 27 years ago. Nothing new

 

[IronWing]

The glass is currently empty as I just finished my DMD. Mmmmm.

Glass is a liquid so the glass is always full of itself.

 

[dug777]

Nah, it's more context-sensitive than that.

If it's last drinks, or anyone else is paying, then it's half empty, and same again thank you

Otherwise, half-full

 

[dug777]

On the hyphens, the brits tend to prefer them, the yanks don't.

 

[darkxshade]

All-sentences-should-follow-this-format.

 

[A Casual Fitz]

Empty

/depression

 

[her209]

Repost
http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=295773

 

[Malak]

Any good engineer will respond the glass is twice as big as it needs to be to contain the given amount of liquid.

Any good engineer would take into account the needs of the client and apply a conservative increase in those needs knowing the client is always wrong.

 

[datalink7]

 

[eits]

"is the glass half-empty or half-full" = wrong
"is the glass half empty or half full" = correct

 

[M0oG0oGaiPan]

http://www.perpetualkid.com/half-full-glass.aspx

 

[surfsatwerk]

 

[Ika]

what the hell's up with the tags in this thread