Text & Writing
The substitution table
Order matters because the tables overlap: replacing a long phrase first can remove the context a shorter one needed, and a table applied out of order produces different text from the same input.
The Formula
output = the input with each phrase in the strategy's table replaced, applied in table order
Order matters because the tables overlap: replacing a long phrase first can remove the context a shorter one needed, and a table applied out of order produces different text from the same input.
| Symbol | Meaning | Unit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| s_in | Input sentence | text | The sentence pasted in, before any edit. |
| table | Substitution table | pairs | The ordered list of from-and-to pairs for this strategy. |
| s_out | Output sentence | text | The sentence after every substitution has been tried. |
What Each Symbol Means
s_intext
Input sentence
The sentence pasted in, before any edit.
tablepairs
Substitution table
The ordered list of from-and-to pairs for this strategy.
s_outtext
Output sentence
The sentence after every substitution has been tried.
See It Worked With Real Numbers
A formula on its own does not tell you which number goes where. The how to rewrite a sentence page applies this equation to a concrete case, shows every intermediate step, and names the mistakes that produce a wrong answer even when the algebra is right.
Where This Formula Appears
This equation is the working core of How To Rewrite A Sentence, filed under Everyday Life. Every number the guide produces comes from substituting into this one line.