RE: More/Less Accurate/Complete

Subject: RE: More/Less Accurate/Complete
From: "Tammy Van Boening" <Tammy -dot- VanBoening -at- healthlanguage -dot- com>
To: "Keith Hansen" <KRH -at- weiland-wfg -dot- com>
Date: Wed, 21 May 2008 08:36:11 -0600

Well, it depends on the usage. In the truest definition of precision
vs. accuracy, precision is the agreement of several
measurements/operations carried out in the same way. Accuracy is the
agreement of a value to the actual value, so you can have four
combinations of as a result:

Not precise and not accurate
Precise but not accurate (All the measurements/final number agree with
each other closely but they in no way reflect the actual/true value.)
Imprecise but accurate (you're all over the board, but by virtue of the
spread of the measurements, you get the actual value covered)
Precise and accurate (the best of the four)

I think maybe what the writer is trying to say is that their final
answer/result will be closer to the needed/expected/actual result, so
the accuracy is indeed better, so maybe instead of more accurate,
something like the final answer will be closer to the expected result?

Just my two cents worth,

TVB

-----Original Message-----
From:
techwr-l-bounces+tammy -dot- vanboening=healthlanguage -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
[mailto:techwr-l-bounces+tammy -dot- vanboening=healthlanguage -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techw
r-l.com] On Behalf Of Keith Hansen
Sent: Wednesday, May 21, 2008 8:25 AM
To: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Subject: More/Less Accurate/Complete

Folks,

Give me your opinion on these sentences... (I just came across them
while editing.)

"If you enter these numbers, your figures will be more complete."
"If you enter these numbers, your figures will be more accurate."

I don't think figures can be more or less complete/accurate. They either
are complete/accurate, or they aren't.

For example, assume you have two students in math class:
* Student A says 2+2 = 5.
* Student B says 2+2 = 500.
Neither student is accurate. You could say one student is closer to the
correct answer than the other student. But "more accurate" or "less
accurate"?!

Your opinions, please.

Keith

P.S. Of course, in the U.S. Constitution, we do have that bit about
forming a "more perfect" union...
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Create HTML or Microsoft Word content and convert to Help file formats
or printed documentation. Features include support for Windows Vista &
2007 Microsoft Office, team authoring, plus more.
http://www.DocToHelp.com/TechwrlList

True single source, conditional content, PDF export, modular help.
Help & Manual is the most powerful authoring tool for technical
documentation. Boost your productivity! http://www.helpandmanual.com

---
You are currently subscribed to TECHWR-L as
Tammy -dot- VanBoening -at- healthlanguage -dot- com -dot-

To unsubscribe send a blank email to
techwr-l-unsubscribe -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
or visit
http://lists.techwr-l.com/mailman/options/techwr-l/tammy.vanboening%40he
althlanguage.com


To subscribe, send a blank email to techwr-l-join -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com

Send administrative questions to admin -at- techwr-l -dot- com -dot- Visit
http://www.techwr-l.com/ for more resources and info.

----
NOTICE BY HEALTH LANGUAGE, INC.
This message, as well as any attached document, contains information from Health Language, Inc. that is confidential. The information is intended only for the use of the addressee named above. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution or the taking of any action in reliance on the contents of this message or its attachments is strictly prohibited, and may be unlawful. If you have received this message in error, please delete all electronic copies of this message and its attachments, if any, destroy any hard copies you may have created, without disclosing the contents, and notify the sender immediately. Unless expressly stated otherwise, nothing contained in this message should be construed as a digital or electronic signature, nor is it intended to reflect an intention to make an agreement by electronic means.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Create HTML or Microsoft Word content and convert to Help file formats or
printed documentation. Features include support for Windows Vista & 2007
Microsoft Office, team authoring, plus more.
http://www.DocToHelp.com/TechwrlList

True single source, conditional content, PDF export, modular help.
Help & Manual is the most powerful authoring tool for technical
documentation. Boost your productivity! http://www.helpandmanual.com

---
You are currently subscribed to TECHWR-L as archive -at- web -dot- techwr-l -dot- com -dot-

To unsubscribe send a blank email to
techwr-l-unsubscribe -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
or visit http://lists.techwr-l.com/mailman/options/techwr-l/archive%40web.techwr-l.com


To subscribe, send a blank email to techwr-l-join -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com

Send administrative questions to admin -at- techwr-l -dot- com -dot- Visit
http://www.techwr-l.com/ for more resources and info.


References:
More/Less Accurate/Complete: From: Keith Hansen

Previous by Author: RE: old school
Next by Author: RE: Tech Writer Lawsuit; STC position? (take II)
Previous by Thread: More/Less Accurate/Complete
Next by Thread: Re: More/Less Accurate/Complete


What this post helpful? Share it with friends and colleagues:


Sponsored Ads