TechWhirl (TECHWR-L) is a resource for technical writing and technical communications professionals of all experience levels and in all industries to share their experiences and acquire information.
For two decades, technical communicators have turned to TechWhirl to ask and answer questions about the always-changing world of technical communications, such as tools, skills, career paths, methodologies, and emerging industries. The TechWhirl Archives and magazine, created for, by and about technical writers, offer a wealth of knowledge to everyone with an interest in any aspect of technical communications.
FW: Slightly OT but need advice on invented verbs (e.g., to gate)
Subject:FW: Slightly OT but need advice on invented verbs (e.g., to gate) From:KMcLauchlan -at- chrysalis-its -dot- com To:"TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com> Date:Thu, 19 Jul 2001 11:23:22 -0400
If "gated" (or "to gate") was invented as a verb,
it wasn't by that engineer. I've seen/heard/read/used
it for years in several contexts, including -- but not
limited to -- transistors and digital logic, telecomms,
learning theory, several biological/biochemical functions,
auto mechanics, hydraulics/fluid-dynamics, optics and some
others I can't think of just now. Essentially, any place
they'd use "gated" as an adjective, they'd also successfully
use it as a verb. I'm sure I saw it in at least one
science article about the equipment some physicists are
using to attack the next level of sub-sub-atomic critters.
Wasn't the term also used in an article on sono-luminescence?
If it says what it means and nobody comes up with
a substitute that's both more familiar and more elegant
or efficient in the context... then go with it.
Just try to gently disabuse the engineer of the notion
that she invented the usage.
/kevin
>-----Original Message-----
>From: skwpt [mailto:skwpt -at- yahoo -dot- com]
>Sent: Thursday, July 19, 2001 7:03 AM
>
>Hi Twirlers:
>
>I'm not a new TW but I *am* a new software manual
>author. What does one do when an engineer/project
>manager is passionate about using a verb she has
>invented (and makes writers cringe)? For example, the
>following is the sentence that introduces a Visio
>diagram:
> "The Create New User Profile dialog flow
> illustrates the steps that create a new user
> profile. This functionality is gated to
> specific users based on role authorization."
>(Ok, ok, I know that's a huge noun string and a
>passive sentence, to boot! <Aaaargh>)
>Anyway, I leaped upon the word "gated" and said, "No,
>no, no," but my PM really wants it. The tech lead said
>she's merely implying security, but she insists that
>"gated" implies an additional security measure/step. I
>see her point but can't---for the life of me--- come
>up with a grammatically correct verb to replace "to
>gate."
*** Deva(tm) Tools for Dreamweaver and Deva(tm) Search ***
Build Contents, Indexes, and Search for Web Sites and Help Systems
Available now at http://www.devahelp.com or info -at- devahelp -dot- com
TECH*COMM 2001 Conference, July 15-18 in Washington, DC
The Help Technology Conference, August 21-24 in Boston, MA
Details and online registration at http://www.SolutionsEvents.com
---
You are currently subscribed to techwr-l as: archive -at- raycomm -dot- com
To unsubscribe send a blank email to leave-techwr-l-obscured -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com
Send administrative questions to ejray -at- raycomm -dot- com -dot- Visit http://www.raycomm.com/techwhirl/ for more resources and info.
