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Rule technical terms

 

Conclusion

A conclusion states something that can be deduced (taken as true) if the rule's conditions are found to be true.

In Forward and Easy-f rules, the conclusion appears at the end of the rule (between THEN and '.').

In Backward and Easy-b rules, the conclusion appears at the start of the rule (before IF).

 

Condition

A condition states something that must be shown to be true in order to deduce the truth of a rule's conclusion.

A rule may have many conditions separated by AND or '&'.

In Forward and Easy-f rules, conditions appear at the start of the rule between IF and THEN.

In Backward and Easy-b rules, conditions appear at the end of the rule between IF and '.'.

 

Feature

A feature is an expression of the form

attribute IS value

or attribute = value

or attribute ARE value

Note that a feature must contain one of IS, '=', ARE.

An attribute and a value may consist of any text excluding IS, '=', ARE and a few other reserved symbols.

The conditions and conclusions of Forward and Backward rules take the form of features. 

 

Proposition

A proposition is an expression made up of any text.

No special recognition is given to the symbols IS, '=', ARE and these may be used freely. A few other symbols are reserved and must be avoided.

The conditions and conclusions of Easy-f and Easy-b rules take the form of propositions.