longman  the least seasonally biased of the three  struggled to break even in the first half and this removed the normal pattern of longman's half-year profits helping to offset the first half losses of the other two businesses  but before we get too depressed  er  i  point out that addison wesley s sales were up by eleven percent and the size of the first half loss reflects the company's decision to gear up in advance  er, for what we w believe will be a very strong  er, second  er, half performance.