Questions tagged [technical]

This tag is for questions related to the use of technical language. Consider [terminology] tag for seeking or discussing a term (or terms) belonging a specialized subject.

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Use of the verb ‘output’ [closed]

I need some advice on the use of output as a verb. To put it in context, I am working on a desktop app that uses some of the functionality of MS Word. In the app, there is an element called a binding ...
VlasovStanislav's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
64 views

Tech-related: should I capitalize the word 'Git' in this context or not?

Which one is proper: the one with 'Git' capitalized or the one without? Configure git commit signing. or Configure Git commit signing.
Zoltan King's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
615 views

Why do we say "narrow artificial intelligence" but "artificial general intelligence"?

When discussing artificial intelligence, we often distinguish between "narrow artificial intelligence" and "artificial general intelligence". Why does the word "artificial&...
tparker's user avatar
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8 votes
4 answers
2k views

Is there a word like "likeness" referring to a person's appearance, but their voice instead?

AI is topical at the moment, with some actors' likenesses being used as training data for some purpose or another. "Likeness", however, has the connotation of being about appearances, i.e. ...
gator's user avatar
  • 314
-1 votes
3 answers
84 views

What is the opposite of a technical layperson?

I want to convey in my resume that I have provided technical documentation that is easily digestible not only by people familiar with the subject, but also by laypersons. However, I cannot think of a ...
gator's user avatar
  • 314
1 vote
0 answers
28 views

What is the extension of "pair" to more than two? [duplicate]

What comes after "pair"? Maybe "quad" for four? In cards it's "three/four of a kind" but what about contexts beyond cards (like science)? For example, in physics there's ...
just a phase's user avatar
0 votes
4 answers
83 views

Ways to describe partially functional phones in a single word

I have several phones that I am currently describing as “partially dysfunctional”, or “functionally impaired”. What are some alternative terms (single words only) that are still formal and neutral ...
QueenieLou's user avatar
3 votes
3 answers
1k views

What’s the Word for representing someone else and taking actions on their behalf/in their name”?

I am looking for a word. The context may seem technical, but it's really not, and you don't need any technical knowledge to understand the idea/context. Context Demonstration: I am developing a ...
Emre Bener's user avatar
0 votes
6 answers
141 views

'Pair' versus 'set' when referring to two things that aren't the same but still go together

Can the word "pair" be used for two things that are not exactly the same but are part of the same package? Let's say that we have two color schemes (or themes) for a computer program. One ...
Zoltan King's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
43 views

Key binding or key bindings (tech term)

Does anyone know if the term key binding can be used for a combination of keys pressed, for example CTRL (Control) + SHIFT + m? Or should I use key bindings (plural) because there are three keys ...
Zoltan King's user avatar
4 votes
3 answers
125 views

How should we describe the largest group in a set when its share accounts for less than 50%?

General idea What is the best way to describe a group that has the largest share of something but doesn't have more than 50%? I'm tempted to use the word "most", but I mentally associate it ...
Felipe D.'s user avatar
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0 answers
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Do you click, tap, tab to or select a link in 2023? [duplicate]

Considering the many ways in which people can interact with web or app content – and especially wanting to include alternative accessibility tools, such as screen readers and more – is there a "...
Philipp Binggeli's user avatar
0 votes
2 answers
161 views

What is a "stone core"?

In a book I'm reading, I found this: Of course, even the most primitive tools of Home erectus (flaked stone cores called 'hand-axes') are far more sophisticaed than anything used by chimpanzees, […] ...
Enlico's user avatar
  • 159
0 votes
1 answer
62 views

Term for an English language course for technical jargon in a specific field

What is the proper term for the English language course in which technical and specific terminology related to a particular field of study (Engineering, Medical sciences, Applied sciences etc.) is ...
Davood's user avatar
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0 answers
44 views

Best words to use for distinguishing between a "physical server" (hw, computer) and a "software server"

I'm looking for two (if possible short) words to describe two concepts, which, unfortunately can be both described as a "server", which is confusing: "hardware server" - a ...
Jan Spurny's user avatar
0 votes
0 answers
84 views

Meaning of "shall be of" in regulation language

There is an interesting style in some regulations e.g, in NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) I often see "shall be of". For instance; Sprinklers shall be of the open or automatic ...
Erhan Ertaş's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
200 views

Is the word "serie" used in English? (as a singular of "series")

As a continental, I would normally use serie to describe a single set, and series to describe multiple sets: I own a BWM 1 Serie, but I own a collection of 5 Series My favourite TV serie is The ...
Bastiaan Quast's user avatar
0 votes
2 answers
50 views

What did this person mean by this confusing remark?

This confuses me massively, and I'm unable to ask him through a comment: if the TV is unplugged, there's no power. A capacitor isn't going to hurt you through a stream of water, and that's only for ...
Diezel's user avatar
  • 1
2 votes
4 answers
67 views

Term for introducing a new work/idea that is different in some aspects relative to previous ones

How to introduce a work, e.g. a publication or report, in a field in which there are many similar works but the new one considered the topic from another perspective that is not common among previous ...
Eilia's user avatar
  • 5,469
1 vote
4 answers
121 views

Less formal term for "dimensions" for something that can be measured in units

In scientific/engineering writing and calculations we use terms that are considered "dimensions" and for each "dimension" we have to have "units" when we describe them. ...
Trashman's user avatar
  • 131
0 votes
2 answers
103 views

Is there a word stronger than "promote" but weaker than "enforce" in a technical context? Maybe "force"?

Context: Scientific paper targeting at computer scientists, engineers and mathematicians I am searching for a word similar to "promote", "push", "force", "enforce&...
Jakob's user avatar
  • 101
0 votes
2 answers
63 views

To clutch in a gear changing context

I'm a portuguese speaker and we have a slang verb, "debrear", which means to step, all the way to the floor, on the clutch pedal, or, motorcycle-wise, to pull the clutch lever all the way in....
Gabriel Santos's user avatar
9 votes
5 answers
539 views

Accessible as in web accessibility

In web development the term accessibility is used when working with features such as screen readers. When talking about accessibility the wording sometimes makes it unclear whether one is referring to ...
aoeu's user avatar
  • 93
0 votes
1 answer
504 views

Period usage in Figures and Table captions [closed]

In technical writing I see that some templates do no use a period after Figure number. For eg I see "Fig 1 Machine Schematic" instead of "Fig 1. Machine Schematic". I see the ...
mindentropy's user avatar
0 votes
2 answers
55 views

What is the word/phrase for what the end user of a computer sees and interacts with?

If you were to divide everything that makes up a computer and its software into what the average user interacts with, and everything else that works "behind the scenes", what would the "...
Edie TC's user avatar
  • 11
0 votes
1 answer
35 views

Word to group some interrelated computer programs [closed]

I am looking for a word to group some interrelated computer programs, to name my github repository The group includes (or github repo) these programs: dwm — a window manager for unix like operating ...
Devansh's user avatar
  • 11
0 votes
3 answers
1k views

Should we say "item number" or "items number" when refering to "number of items"?

Let's consider a table with multiple specified containers. Each of those containers has multiple items inside. We'd like to have that table to look like: |Container_A | 7 | Where the "7" ...
Matthew Blackwind's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
160 views

What pronouns to use in technical documentation

I am writing some documentation for a piece of software and I am struggling on what pronouns to use. I didn't want to use gender related pronouns as my subject is the user so I used they/their, but it ...
Jack's user avatar
  • 111
0 votes
2 answers
55 views

To describe something as a 'quarter' or 'half' of something do they need to be of a certain size?

If I split something into two unequally sized pieces can I say for example, this is 'my half', or I have the 'bigger half' of a cake? I hear this a lot with natural English speakers. If I split ...
user avatar
0 votes
0 answers
30 views

Word for registering a domain name of a competitor (or known name) and redirect it to your own website

I'm in a niche hobby, and recently there's been a very disgusting trend happening: webshops registering the domain names of other shops with only minor, but very common typos; or register a domain ...
Opifex's user avatar
  • 111
1 vote
0 answers
37 views

Terms in a specific context. Are they proper nouns and/or technical terms?

Currently I am writing a report where I explain some basic concepts for developing plug-ins in Moodle. During this I am a bit struggling about the using of typical Moodle terms. Moodle has, for ...
rene's user avatar
  • 11
2 votes
1 answer
313 views

Suffix in adverbs: The use of the term 'normally distributed' in place of 'normal distributed'

When a word is used as an adverb then it is normally combined with a suffix like "-ly" or "-ian". Like 'normal' becomes 'normally' and the previous sentence is an example of its ...
Sextus Empiricus's user avatar
0 votes
0 answers
59 views

Single medical term for "taking a pulse"

I have been searching for a technical/medical term to use in place of "taking a pulse". I see some texts use "palpatory measurements" in place of the colloquial "taking a ...
r2d2's user avatar
  • 5
0 votes
1 answer
38 views

Utilize the active voice in sentences when an actor is undefined [closed]

I am writing the technical documentation that describes some actions to be done. For example: The new sewer water line may be connected to the old one in room A546 or to the new one in room A549. I ...
user1543083's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
89 views

Replace "per 100,000 people" with a more general term

I want to title a graph. If it represented percentages, I could say something like "Percentage of people in full-time employment". If it contained fractions I could write "Fraction of ...
Baz's user avatar
  • 644
2 votes
1 answer
87 views

What are the English terms for the Dutch words "kooktraject" and "smelttraject"

If a material has a melting temperature range instead of a melting point, then the dedicated Dutch word "smelttraject" applies. Similarly, "kooktraject" indicates a boiling ...
Johan van Ravenhorst's user avatar
1 vote
4 answers
187 views

Singular use of “the young” to mean animal offspring?

The Academy of Natural Sciences at Drexel University has a webpage about butterflies in which I read the following: Butterflies, moths, beetles, flies and bees have complete metamorphosis. The young (...
Zero to hero's user avatar
2 votes
2 answers
247 views

What do you call the layout that organizes the decorative moldings and ornamental features of a building?

In french it's called Modénature. Is there an equivalent in English ?
Julien Reszka's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
45 views

Italics is to italicize, as bold is to...? [duplicate]

I'm trying to find the right phrasing for I actionably make something bold in a given text document. Clearly I know that when I put something in "italics", I'm actionably "italicizing&...
Phil Physics's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
2k views

Differences between “Approach,” "Perspective," and “Paradigm”

My question is related to this one: Differences between “methods”, “methodologies” and “paradigms” In lectures, we learned In statistical practice, there are two main schools of thought or paradigms: ...
sci9's user avatar
  • 129
0 votes
1 answer
81 views

Hypernym for wheels, tracks, etc

Is there a hypernym for wheels and tracks (possibly also, though rarer, mechanical legs and hovecraft skirts), that is the interface or system that supports a vehicle on land and that (except for ...
syre's user avatar
  • 131
1 vote
1 answer
740 views

What does the term "ticky-tacky" in the song "Little Boxes" mean and what is its etymology? [closed]

The song "Little Boxes" by Malvina Reynolds has these lyrics: Little boxes on the hillside Little boxes made of ticky-tacky Little boxes on the hillside Little boxes all the same There's a ...
Galactic's user avatar
  • 133
0 votes
1 answer
74 views

What is 'e. m.' in this sentence?

What does this abbreviation (e. m.) stand for? It seems to me that e.m. is an abbreviation of 'essential medical'. Is this a technical phrase? They evac’d only 27 e.m. plus 1 officer from Maisaka, ...
samhana's user avatar
  • 819
1 vote
3 answers
205 views

What Do You Call a Store that Sells Obsolete Equipment?

I think of the sort of place you could buy a power cord for a flip-phone ... and the word that comes to mind is 'radio shack'; not because of the company "Radio Shack"--which sells the same ...
Harry Jude's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
276 views

Questions about history and usage of the word "paren"

This is related to an earlier question: "parentheses" vs "parenthesis" but is about etymology of the related (and apparently informal, per wikitionary ) word "paren" and ...
Trashman's user avatar
  • 131
0 votes
1 answer
35 views

Values manager vs. value manager [duplicate]

When writing software documentation I very often have to describe things like a value manager, a value cache or a device map. These are usually components of the software system. In practice the ...
NicolasR's user avatar
  • 103
-1 votes
1 answer
118 views

Many users, one address each: Users address? Users addresses? User addresses? [duplicate]

In the context of writing a technical document, I need to refer to a data structure that contains a list of addresses, in fact one address for each user in the system. Should I call this data ...
gioele's user avatar
  • 99
0 votes
0 answers
95 views

Which article a/the should be used in API documentation?

For example: some_field - an/the description of smth In what cases articles should be/should not be used?
indigo's user avatar
  • 1
0 votes
1 answer
104 views

Is metrics a synonym of scores? [closed]

I would like to know if I can use score and metric interchangeably. I'm a software engineer, and I'm creating a product that will store conversion metrics (the level of conversion of a site's visitor),...
mamonas's user avatar
  • 11
0 votes
4 answers
223 views

A word for the experience and vernacular of a group of people - Discord? Is this correct?

In college, I took a class called technical writing. It has been a while, but this is my recollection. Discord is defined as the collection of vernacular and experiences of a group of people. For ...
Derek's user avatar
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