Re: [PATCH v3 02/11] doc: interpret-trailers: replace “lines” with “metadata”

["Matt Hunter" <m@lfurio.us>]

On Tue Jun 16, 2026 at 4:32 PM EDT, Kristoffer Haugsbakk wrote:
> On Thu, Jun 11, 2026, at 05:10, Matt Hunter wrote:
>> On Wed Jun 10, 2026 at 5:21 PM EDT, kristofferhaugsbakk wrote:
>>>[snip]
>>>  DESCRIPTION
>>>  -----------
>>> -Add or parse _trailer_ lines at the end of the otherwise
>>> +Add or parse trailers metadata at the end of the otherwise
>>
>> fwiw, I think "trailer metadata" reads more naturally.
>
> You’re right that your version reads more naturally. I went back and
> forth on this.

After reading your points, I started debating the grammatical
correctness of it to myself too.  Though I think I stand by my original
knee-jerk response.

>
> 1. We’re introducing the jargon, and the format is often discussed as
>    plural “trailers”, with its constituent parts being singular
>    “trailer”
> 2. What this replaces uses “trailer”, but it rescues the plural mood
>    with “lines”
> 3. This is very soon going to go into the constituent parts, including
>    each trailer, so we’re contrasting the concept name (trailers) with
>    its parts
>
> But I think your version is overall better. It reads better and there is
> no way to confuse “trailer metadata” (trailers as a collection) with
> just a single “trailer”.

Yes, "metadata" reads as a hint to me that interpret-trailers works with
the overall trailer block too.

Another thought I had after seeing this again is that the text could
just say "Add or parse trailers at the end ...", but "metadata" is a lot
more useful, since it's an introduction to what trailers _are_.  So the
patch is an improvement over the original context imo.