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Sometimes spelling does matter

Sometimes spelling does matter

Sometimes spelling does matter

(OP)
On a test report I reviewed this morning:

TEST XYZ:
XYZ exceptable per Code ABC.

Does that mean "we ran the test, and the results were acceptable"?

Or does it mean "Code ABC allows us to take an exception and not run the tests at all"?

The second is actually plausible, since the test is optional.  But I suspect the first is the case.  I have a call in to the lab to verify.

Heh.

Hg

RE: Sometimes spelling does matter

Something that needs to be clarified ASAP. Interpretation can cause a lot of problems, especially with testing. I assume it should be "acceptable".

Chris
Sr. Mechanical Designer, CAD
SolidWorks 05 SP0.1 / PDMWorks 05
ctopher's home site

RE: Sometimes spelling does matter

How about raised, rased or razed when discussing structural actvities?

RE: Sometimes spelling does matter

"Exceptable" is not a word, so there is no point interpretting it.  

Who's fault was it, theres, they'res or theirs?

RE: Sometimes spelling does matter

Many of the test codes that I deal with define only the method of test.  Acceptable results are determined by the user or buyer.

However I get frequently "reports" from suppliers and vendors stating "We passed test XYZ."  This drives me nuts.

XYZ cannot be passed or failed because the standard does not contain any pass or fail criteria.  The result of XYZ is a collection of information.

Success of failure is determined by comparing this information against some external criteria.

Your particular test may or may not fall into this category.

RE: Sometimes spelling does matter

Spelling matters to me ALL of the time.

jimbo

Buy a dictionary, keep it nearby and USE it. Webster's New World Dictionary of American English is recommended, and Webster's Collegiate Dictionary.

RE: Sometimes spelling does matter

   There were some interesting notes on Web Pages That Suck recently about spelling and spell checkers.

   http://www.webpagesthatsuck.com/

   Look for the Daily Sucker.  The article has probably scrolled off by now, but you can probably find it.

   Better yet, go to Google and search for "pubic accountants".  There are over 8000 of them last time I checked.

                     JHG

RE: Sometimes spelling does matter

the words that i most often see misspelled are:
effect, correct form: affect
superceded, correct form: superseded
recieve, correct form: receive
drives me nuts...
cheers.

saludos.
a.

RE: Sometimes spelling does matter

Affect is a verb.
Effect is a noun.  And I must admit that even though I understand the difference, sometimes I must think extra hard to correctly use these words.  It seems like such a subtle thing.

I think we should misspell supersede consistently so that our living linguists change it to supercede which I prefer.  Don't know why -- just seems better that way.

RE: Sometimes spelling does matter

Speaking of spell checking, or lack there of, we bought a banner this past week to drive home the point of the importance of quality for one particular product line we are building.  We felt the need to emphasize this point because our welders and inspectors have been missing some very obvious bad welds on this product.  Unfortunately, I didn't proofread the sign myself before having my guys hang it in the shop.  It read:

Quality Procuct is a Matter of Life and Death

I think that our sign maker needs a spell checker.

RE: Sometimes spelling does matter

metman,
according to merriam-webster on line... the correct correct form of the verb is supersede and the correct noun is supersedure
supercede, is a variant of supersede... and not the other way around.
i had the same discussion with a guy at work and his answer was: shoot, i may argue with you... but don't see any point arguing with m-w, do i?

later


saludos.
a.

RE: Sometimes spelling does matter

abeltio,

shoot, i may argue with you... but don't see any point arguing with m-w, do i?

I think I got the gist of that but curious -- what is m-w?

RE: Sometimes spelling does matter

metman - m-w = merriam-webster dictionary

cheers,
rad
"Remember, if you leave it to the last minute, it'll only take a minute"

RE: Sometimes spelling does matter


I'm glad to see that I am not the only one with the compulsion to spell supersede with a 'c' in the middle.

BTW, there is an infamous sign on southbound 101, just south of the Golden Gate Bridge that identifies a particular lane for 'busses' and one sign later has it spelled 'buses'.  I doesn't seem to bother anyone else.

I've decided to just think of the first sign as the indicator for the kissing lane.

RE: Sometimes spelling does matter

Chambers on-line dictionary gives definition of supersede and associated words as follows:

supersede verb (superseded, superseding) 1 to take the place of (something, especially something outdated or no longer valid) e.g. "CD-ROMs will supersede many reference books." 2 to adopt, appoint or promote in favour of another. supersedence noun. superseder noun. supersession noun.
ETYMOLOGY: 15c: from Latin super above + sedere to sit.



RE: Sometimes spelling does matter

Perhaps the tendancy to spell supersede with a 'c' is that 'cede' is a valid word, and 'super' could be a prefix to that word.  A super-cede is when there is lots of ceding going on??

That is not the case however, as supersede is its own base word, with a completely different etymology.

Good Luck
--------------
As a circle of light increases so does the circumference of darkness around it. - Albert Einstein

RE: Sometimes spelling does matter

tendency
:oP

saludos.
a.

RE: Sometimes spelling does matter

speaking of spelling does manner - I was in a meeting today, where I received the business card of a person whose position was listed as "Genetal Manager."  I know it was a simple typo... but boy was it tough not to snicker.


RE: Sometimes spelling does matter

You have got to be kidding!  You made this up didn't you?

Bet you were too chicken to point out the typo to the "person" - eh?  And went way beyond snickering to  laughing all the way home.  You are cruel -- admit it!

RE: Sometimes spelling does matter

no kidding.  I made it about 50 feet from the door of the conference room before I pointed it out to a coworker...

English wasn't this fellow's native language - he was addressing me via a (human) translator - and I didn't want to risk anything by pointing it out.  (didn't know how good the translator was, since english wasn't his native language either, and he was having enough trouble already)

RE: Sometimes spelling does matter

nuff said

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