Correct pronunciation of `:=`

Question

This is probably a very lame question, but what is the correct pronunciation of := in Delphi?

How would you say:

A := 5;

if A = 5 then
  B := TMyClass.Create;

I think I've heard "A equals 5", and "5 is assigned to A", and "A is set to 5" for values, but I'm not sure if either of these are any good. For the reference assignment I think "B refers to a new instance of TMyClass" is the correct way? Or should it be "points to" instead?

I believe that a well established way of describing programming statements is important for the community. It makes it easier to cooperate and interact.

Feel free to add other programming structures to this question. We can make this a community wiki if the topic is of interest.

Answer 1

A := 5 A is assigned the value 5

A := B A is assigned the value of B

A := func A is assigned the return value of func

A := class.contructor A is assigned a new instance of class

A = B A is equal to B

I also often say "colon-equal" for := when talking verbatim about delphi code.

Answer 2

I've heard it referred to as "gets". As in "A gets 5".

Answer 3

"A becomes 5" works for me.

Sometimes I think "A equals 5" but I know it's not a mathematical 'equals'.

==EDIT==

most of that second line was added to make the answer meet the length requirement. I don't really like the "equals" pronunciation.

Answer 4

I would say

A rabbit 5
or A bunny 5

From a visual point of view :=

Answer 5

The statement above is called the assignment statement in programming, so the most correct way, I believe, to describe the statement in the case of A:=5 is to say "Assign 5 to A".

Answer 6

I usually say:

"Let a be 5".

Answer 7

I've no idea where I got this from, but in my head I say "A becomes equal to 5". This differentiates from the "A is equal to 5" used in conditional statements.

I wouldn't ever think "A equals 5" - it's just too ambiguous.

Answer 8

:= means definition, as in let define A as number 5 (more details in the table). For contrast = means equality as in equation.

Pascal language by Wirth's design pays much respect to Mathematics, hence the usage of this symbol instead of = because:

a = a + b solves to b ≡ 0 which is incorrect either algorithmically or mathematically.

In your example line 4 defines B as Create() function value.

Here is an example of := being used to define hyperbolic cosinus function:

When it comes to verbalizing Pascal code, := the assignment "operator" (it is not real operator in Pascal) sounds like: assign <right-part-expression> to <left-part-identifier>

Answer 9

When I was taught Pascal, way back when, I heard x := 42 pronounced as

x becomes equal to 42

It has stuck with me ever since.

Similarly, x = 42 as

x is equal to 42

Answer 10

Interesting question. I don't think an assignment statement is something I ever try to say out loud. If I had to I would say A becomes 5.

Answer 11

1. Assign to
2. Set to
3. Colon equals

Answer 12

A := 5 would be "A is assigned 5"

A = 5 would be "A equals 5"

Answer 13

For A := B I say: "A becomes equal to B"

Answer 14

I usually say both := and = as "A equals 5". And let the context it is in inform the listener of which meaning is used.

Other times I will pronounce := as "Set A to 5" or "Set A equal to 5"

Answer 15

Victor Borge worked out an excellent system for phonetic punctuation.

In his system, it would sound like this:

pwt, pwt, pfwssh, pfwssh

or this:

pwt, pfwssh, pwt, pwfssh

Note -- the p is silent in pwfssh...

Answer 16

I have always pronounced it "co-equals".

As in: "A co-equals B"

Answer 17

Repeating really, but I have said (and thought) A := 5 as A is assigned to 5 for the last 27 years, as that is what my lecturer and tutor said in my first year Pascal class. or was is in the language reference?

I have also heard A becomes 5

A = 5 is simply A equals 5, normally combines with an if or while.

Answer 18

In Dutch it easy A wordt 5 for which the best English translation would be A becomes 5