Under "the majority wins" principle, the lexicon of a given language may be skewed in the sheer number of verbs that favor a particular subject role.
"Whatever the reason for all this, the 2008 election was a validation that progressive principles are winning principles and it's very encouraging to see a turn back toward those principles," says Taylor.
So many arguments that could be won on principle are lost on tone.
The Unionist community in Northern Ireland won the principle of consent, which established that it cannot be incorporated in a united Ireland against its will.
This sort of win-win principle, she said, could explain all sorts of symbiotic arrangements, even among different species -- like the tendency of baboons and impalas to associate together because they use each other's warning calls.
The Liberal senator Eric Abetz said the reformed package was "a win for principle and common sense".
The Republican establishment backed George W. Bush early (and lavishly) because this time out, it preferred winning to principle.
It was based on the notion of commitment and "win-win" principles.
Chongqing has "in principle" won approval from the Ministry of Finance and may introduce the property tax as early as this quarter, The China Securities Journal said Monday, citing the city's government.
Instead, 75percentt of Italy's seats are won on the principle of winner take all, while 25percentt are awarded by proportional representation.
These rulings don't appear to be isolated -- in fact, in another case last year the right of countries to set strict environmental standards won both in principle and, for the first time, in fact.
