Talk:if

Programming keyword

Should "if" as a programming statement come under English? Or should it come under the computer language(s) in which it's used? Or should it come under Translingual? If it comes under English should it be a "conjuction" or a "computer language statement"?

The usage section only belongs to the computer stuff but its position now makes it like it's for any usage. Same with the "see also" section.

What do the big dictionaries have to say? — Hippietrail 13:14, 29 Jun 2004 (UTC)

The big dictionaries don't appear to catalog programming statements. I'm not entirely sure we should either, unless we plan on becoming a programming reference as well. (A usage note like "if condition then result" is only a step away from detailed descriptions of for loops.) [slippery-slope argument, I know.] This doesn't mean we can't add programming statements that get used as words—I've heard "xor" used in speech before, for example—but "if" as a programming statement essentially equals the ordinary English use of "if" (as the definition here itself admits). —Muke Tever 14:52, 29 Jun 2004 (UTC)

I'm definitely in favour of including "xor" (it is used in other fields), but I'm quite iffy about "if".

I'm not really sure what makes feel differently between them though.

(The programming languages I've have an operator for "xor" not spelled with letters anyway) — 138.130.33.197 22:00, 29 Jun 2004 (UTC)

I also think the computing (deprecated template usage) if should be removed. It's simply a keyword. As far as human language goes, it is the same thing as if, and anything further is encyclopaedic commentary on how computer programming works. Equinox ◑ 12:02, 26 June 2011 (UTC)

if (it be) so

Are if (it be) so variants of if so be? --Backinstadiums (talk) 18:59, 17 September 2019 (UTC)

for if

should for if, meaning "in case", be added? --Backinstadiums (talk) 19:24, 18 November 2019 (UTC)

No, it's SoP, like "for next week". Equinox ◑ 19:41, 18 November 2019 (UTC)

if needs must

isn't if needs must an idiom? Just as is if need be? --Backinstadiums (talk) 17:13, 9 March 2020 (UTC)

I don't know if or not I passed

Why is it wrong unlike I don't know whether or not I passed ? --Backinstadiums (talk) 18:13, 25 June 2021 (UTC)

IF https://oed.com/oed2/00111435 , WHETHER https://oed.com/oed2/00284376 --Backinstadiums (talk) 09:56, 26 June 2021 (UTC)

if-then-else

https://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/If-then-else Backinstadiums (talk) 17:03, 1 November 2022 (UTC)

if I've told you once, I've told you a thousand times

What meaning of if is used in this idiom? https://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/if+Ive+told+you+once JMGN (talk) 11:57, 21 August 2023 (UTC)

Pronunciation

According to the LPD, "In Received Pronunciation this word has no separate weak form, but in some other varieties, including General American, it may have a weak form /əf/".

Additionally, The initial vowel in if is often elided in conditional clauses such as If I were you ... /ˈfaɪ.wə.ju/. JMGN (talk) 17:55, 11 October 2024 (UTC)