Deference to Higher Authority

This book is an attempt to produce a readable and enlightening description of the language defined by the Standard. It sets out to to make interpretations of what the Standard actually means but to express them in ‘simpler’ English. We've done our best to get it right, but you must never forget that the only place that the language is fully defined is in the Standard itself. It is entirely possible that what we interpret the Standard to mean is at times not what the Standard Committee sought to specify, or that the way we explain it is looser and less precise than it is in the Standard. If you are in any doubt: READ THE STANDARD! It's not meant to be read for pleasure, but it is meant to be accurate and unambiguous; look nowhere else for the authoritative last word.