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Is it correct to use word commision as a synonym to order on stock market? In meaning: an instruction from customers to brokers to buy or sell on the exchange. I know that commision is a fee or percentage for broker for services rendered. But I found out that is commision synonym for order, or placing. So is it correct in this meaning?

I'm asking about noun commision with one 's'.

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    There is no such word as commision. It has to be commission: "6 : a fee paid to an agent or employee for transacting a piece of business or performing a service; especially : a percentage of the money received from a total paid to the agent responsible for the business"
    – user21497
    Commented Jan 27, 2013 at 12:32

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Commission can be used to mean "place an order for", but it's usually used in respect of works of art or other particularly large concrete items ("commission a portrait", "commission a concerto", "commission an aircraft carrier"). It appears to be related to having made a commitment to pay for the work.

As you say, commission has a particular meaning for brokers, where they are paid a fee for services rendered.

It would be inadvisable to use the word in a different way when dealing with brokers. At best it would require effort to be certain of the meaning; at worst it could be distinctly ambiguous.

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  • +1, just because you can do something doesn't necessarily mean you should, and here I agree that it's inadvisable. All the more so because it's reasonable to consider "if I had to ask to be sure the meaning was okay, then maybe others would be unsure too".
    – Jon Hanna
    Commented Jan 27, 2013 at 13:03
  • It's not about what one should do or not. It's been already used widely in the code in this meaning. I have to think now or does it make any sense to put extra effort to replace it.
    – Borys
    Commented Jan 27, 2013 at 16:16
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Commission can be used as a verb to mean ‘To give authority to act; to empower, authorize; to entrust with an office or duty’, or, again, ‘To give a commission or order for; to order’. It is probably in one or other of these ways that it is being used where you have seen it.

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    thanks. But I meant commision as a noun with one 's'. Is it still correct?
    – Borys
    Commented Jan 27, 2013 at 12:19
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    @Fortiter. Do you have a source for the use of a single 's'?
    – Barrie England
    Commented Jan 27, 2013 at 12:31
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    Do a verbatim search on Google for "commision". The results are enlightening or depressing depending upon your stance.
    – Fortiter
    Commented Jan 27, 2013 at 12:37
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    @Borys: You do seem to take some convincing! The single-s version is definitely a spelling mistake, and the one and only word commission has multiple meanings.
    – FumbleFingers
    Commented Jan 27, 2013 at 16:47
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    @Borys: Of course I'm sure! So is everyone else who's mentioned the matter here. All that's happening is that you would like to think there are two different words because you understand two different senses. There are a few cases where things like that can happen (practice/practise, for example), but this isn't one of them. Fortiter's comment about commision being a "non-preferred variant spelling" is misleading. It's never considered valid by any "authorities".
    – FumbleFingers
    Commented Jan 27, 2013 at 17:03

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