Semantics & Engineering

Hello PWSlack

I do agree with you answer.

This plain english campaign directly aims to the target of linguistic codswallop. As a foreign english speaker I very often find that I must spend a lot of time imagining what normatives and technical papers do really want to say.

Anyways the http://www.plainenglish.co.uk/guides.htm guides there submited are really worth reading even if you write in another language.

I am going to give this internet address to my coleagues. This way, we will all improve and critizise our writing skills.

Thank you very much for the address.

If you go to Dilbert.com you can get a free Dilbert strip e-mailed to you every day, it's always a welcome break in my day.

Translating some of these new words into French is very difficult. I'm not sure Michelle of the Resistance will understand them. I'm certain the British Airmen won't.

"The latest issue of 'Manufacturing Community Update' from Autodesk has an article entitled "Leverage Inventor 2008 Sketch Tools" My question is this, what does 'leverage' mean in this context?"

"Make it work for you" . . . possibly.

More marketing speak trying to make things look more complex and glamorous. What it really seems to mean is "use and apply". "Leverage" sounds much better, especially when you are paying thousands of dollars.

Here are some more real examples I have come across this year.

Military weapons R&D program submission

- "overwhelm target characterization uncertainties" = Blow it up!

A Scientific study proposal to educate the public

- "We propose the formation of interagency societal impact subgroups to coordinate
education and public outreach on the health and environmental impacts of nanotechnology" = We want to put together a team

......"This information will minimize the likelihood that the public develops polarized perceptions of nanotechnology
based on rumour and supposition and hence avoid potential overreactions" = .....to teach the public about nanotechnology.

Why say 1 word when 10 will convey the same meaning !

I had to look up 'codswallop'

much like.."efforting."

I think you have to go back to the definition as a noun. To have leverage, literally, is to have a mechanical advantage due to use of a lever. This has been adapted to a verb that means, essentially, advantage, as in to get the upper hand over someone, the better end of a deal, or in this case, get more out of the software.

But I agree, it's silly and pretentious.

I don't know about the rest of you but as soon as I encounter terms like 'leverage' and their ilk, I stop reading because I know that there will be no useful information in the article.

There seems to be a "but wait! That's not all." attachment to these terms of leverage and such.

Any noun can be verbed.

Doesn't mean it'll make sense though.

Thank you all for your comments.

I think I have a rough idea what it means now and also what it says about the person using it.

PWSlack: Thanks for the link to the Plain English site

Drew