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.
Mark's observation triggers this question: Has anyone checked a technical
dictionary on this usage?
Just curious.
On Wed, 21 Sep 1994, Mark D. Walker wrote:
> Shelly wrote:
> > "increments" and "decrements" were used as VERBS!
> To which Richard replied:
> > I have been using these verbs for about 30 years, and I was
> > astonished to discover today that they ain't in the dictionary.
> > May I have a show of hands on this one? Did you know that these
> > verbs aren't verbs? Do only programmers increment registers?
> To which I reply:
> Engineers also increment and decrement registers, counters, etc.
> Increment and decrement may not be in the dictionary, but they are
> valid engineering terms. I have, in the past, gone 'round and 'round
> with editors and other English majors about those two words
> (especially decrement), and am sure I will again, sooner or later.
> I remember reading somewhere (I don't remember where) that if all
> engineering, technical, and scientific words were included in the
> dictionary, it would triple in size. In other words, there are an
> awful lot of tehcnical terms that are not in the dictionary.
> Mark Walker
*****************************************************************************
* RoMay Sitze rositze -at- nmsu -dot- edu *
*****************************************************************************
* Only the curious wil learn and only the resolute overcome the *
* obstacles to learning. The quest quotient has always excited *
* me more than the intelligence quotient. -Eugene S. Wilson_ *
*****************************************************************************
