Strange display on deleting Section line near top of window

[Alan]

In version 4.3.10, and noticed in version 4.3.9, when I delete the Section (Continuous) that is 3 lines after the top line of text in the window that 1st line is over lain with what looks like a copy of the Status line (text window length) from the bottom of the window and over that line is left-aligned what looks like a copy of the embedded active Document Bar (given that it is pink/red for the truncated length of the file name). This happens after I do a File insert at the end of the file and am in the process of joining the 2 together. This does not happen when the Section (Continuous) is deleted from further down the screen. I deliberately position the screen this way as the inserted text starts with a new paragraph and I want to be able to see as much of the inserted text as I can while doing preliminary/rough formatting. To get rid of this line I do a Page Up/Page Down as scrolling up and down gets rid of that weird top line but then mis-renders some other line near the top.

Alan

[admin]

Could you please post a sample document file and the step-by-step instructions to reproduce this?

[Alan]

Hi admin,
The PNG file shows the bar I got following the attached Atlantis Instructions. The last 2 files were used to recreate the problem.

Alan

[admin]

Will be fixed in version 4.3.10.3. Thanks.

[rstroud]

Alan, I am reluctant to mention this ... but it is just who I am. I would not want you to make this mistake in your work if you submit it somewhere or make it available to the public.

... 1st line is over lain with ...

It should be overlaid with.

The lie/lay verbs are two of the biggest problems in English grammar.

[Robert]

Actually it should have been “overlain” in one word, past participle of the verb “overlie”. It could also have been “overlaid”, past participle of the verb “overlay”.
As for the difference between “overlie” and “overlay”, it seems that “overlie” connotes passivity while “overlay” connotes voluntary effort. Regarding the display glitch in Atlantis, it is obvious that it was involuntary. So “overlie” seems to be more appropriate.
Have a look at the following pages:
overlay, overlie, overlaid, overlays, overlaying- WordWeb dictionary definition
Overlie vs Overlay - What's the difference?

[rstroud]

Of course I know the difference between lie and lay and their derivative forms with the prefix over-. I have taught English grammar at the university level, and I have a Master's degree in English and a Ph.D. in comparative literature. I have been writing and editing for over fifty years. I also have the additional grammatical perspective that comes with being able to speak German and Spanish besides my native English.

I can no longer find the passage in question in Alan's quote. However, it is clear to me that the fragment "1st line over lain with" should be "1st line overlaid with". This is because overlie (from which we get overlain) is an intransitive verb. Being intransitive means it cannot have an object or be used in the passive voice (to be + past participle). If you have an object, or you are using the verb in the passive voice, you have to use a transitive verb. You cannot say: I will overlie it with gold. You cannot say: I have overlain it with gold. The proper forms are: I will overlay it with gold and I have overlaid it with gold. Similarly, this is a wrong form: It was overlain with gold. Why is it wrong? Because the past participle overlain, here functioning as an adjective, implies that an action with a subject and an object took place: Somebody overlaid an object with gold. Hence: The object was overlaid with gold.

Note, however, that when no object is involved, and the verb is active voice (not passive), you can properly say: Dark suspicion overlies all his actions and Dark suspicion has overlain all his actions.

I know that the grammar lesson above has to be confusing to most people. That is because people do not understand transitive and intransitive verbs and active and passive voice. I could explain this a lot more clearly, but to do so would entail a very long article with examples. That is just too much to do here.

But if any of you have any grammar questions, you may feel free to contact me.
rolandraystroud@gmail.com
Roland Stroud, Ph.D., M.D.
Physician, writer, editor, teacher, poet, amateur computer programmer