[R] Strange and disturbing bug

[Steve Roberts]

How about this one? If I set a variable in a data.frame with a two-
part name including a dot (say y.pair), and if the variable with the 
name of the first part (y) doesn't but I ask for it's value I get the 
value of the two-part name. Ie set fred$x.pair and print the value of 
fred$x it gives me the value I set to fred$x.pair. Weird and 
somewhat disturbing!
Maybe an example makes it clearer:


  Dr Steve Roberts 
  steve.roberts at man.ac.uk

Senior Lecturer in Medical Statistics,
CMMCH NHS Trust and University of Manchester Biostatistics Group,
0161 275 5192 / 0161 276 5785