[Rd] Documentation examples for lm and glm

[Fox, John]

Dear Steve,

Since this relates as well to the message I posted a couple of minutes before yours, I agree that it’s possible to phrase “best practices” too categorically. In the current case, I believe that it’s reasonable to say that specifying the data argument is “generally” or “usually” the best option. That doesn’t rule out exceptions.

Best,
 John

  -------------------------------------------------
  John Fox, Professor Emeritus
  McMaster University
  Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
  Web: http::/socserv.mcmaster.ca/jfox

> On Dec 17, 2018, at 7:49 AM, S Ellison <S.Ellison using LGCGroup.com> wrote:
> 
> 
> 
>> From: Thomas Yee [mailto:t.yee using auckland.ac.nz]
>> 
>> Thanks for the discussion. I do feel quite strongly that
>> the variables should always be a part of a data frame. 
> 
> This seems pretty much a decision for R core, and I think it's useful to have raised the issue.
> 
> But I, er, feel strongly that strong feelings and 'always' are unsafe in a best practice argument. 
> 
> First, other folk with different use-cases or work practice may see 'best practice' quite differently. So I would pretty much always expect exceptions.
> 
> Second, for examples of capability, there are too many exceptions in this instance. For example:
> glm() can take a two-column matrix as a single response variable. 
> lm() can take a matrix as a response variable. 
> lm() can take a complete data frame as a predictor (see ?stackloss)
> 
> None of these work naturally if everything is in a data frame, and some won’t work at all.
> 
> Steve E
> 
> 
> 
> 
> *******************************************************************
> This email and any attachments are confidential. Any use, copying or
> disclosure other than by the intended recipient is unauthorised. If 
> you have received this message in error, please notify the sender 
> immediately via +44(0)20 8943 7000 or notify postmaster using lgcgroup.com 
> and delete this message and any copies from your computer and network. 
> LGC Limited. Registered in England 2991879. 
> Registered office: Queens Road, Teddington, Middlesex, TW11 0LY, UK
> ______________________________________________
> R-devel using r-project.org mailing list
> https://stat.ethz.ch/mailman/listinfo/r-devel