Wordsmith Talk |
About Us | What's New | Search | Site Map | Contact Us | |||
You are not logged in. [Log In] Wordsmith.org » Forums » General Topics » Q&A about words » Exceeding Thresholds in reverse Register User Forum List Calendar Active Topics Search
FAQ
Topic Options ![]()
#193701 - 10/27/10 11:51 AM Re: Exceeding Thresholds in reverse [Re: TheFallibleFiend]
![]()
veteran
![]()
Registered: 01/23/02
Posts: 1523
Loc: Virginia, USA Boogers.
Top
#193703 - 10/27/10 01:50 PM Re: Exceeding Thresholds in reverse [Re: TheFallibleFiend]
![]()
Carpal Tunnel
![]()
Registered: 06/23/06
Posts: 5249
Loc: Netherlands, the Hague Plunged?
Top
#193705 - 10/27/10 04:02 PM Re: Exceeding Thresholds in reverse [Re: TheFallibleFiend]
![]()
Carpal Tunnel
![]()
Registered: 06/24/02
Posts: 7185
Loc: Vermont Originally Posted By: TheFallibleFiendBoogers.
well, you don't have to have that impression!
;¬ )_________________________
formerly known as etaoin...
Top
#193710 - 10/28/10 05:35 AM Re: Exceeding Thresholds in reverse [Re: Buffalo Shrdlu]
![]()
Carpal Tunnel
![]()
Registered: 12/01/00
Posts: 13658 I tell ya, man. Drop the whole threshold metaphor for this sort of thing. It just ain't working. I'm with Buffy on the rejection of undershot.
Top
#193733 - 10/29/10 10:03 AM Re: Exceeding Thresholds in reverse [Re: TheFallibleFiend]
![]()
veteran
![]()
Registered: 01/23/02
Posts: 1523
Loc: Virginia, USA The word "threshold" is commonly understood in computer science (and probably throughout engineering). I suspect it has a formal definition in technical dictionaries that has no relation and probably no reference to its etymology. In that field, I don't think it's a metaphor - any more than "semaphore," "key," or "web" - at least not in the minds of those who use it in this technical sense.
The audience of my writing is generally technical - engineers mostly, hard scientists, but occasionally a non-technical person who is otherwise surrounded by technical people. My guess is that even this person would understand the word threshold in the context I have described. I don't know for sure, but I strongly suspect that none of them (or only a very few) would be aware of the etymology, let alone be confused by the use of the term.
Of course I could (and often do) use the terms "upper limit" and "lower limit." But it makes otherwise dry text less monotonous, if I mix up the vocabulary a little. Also there are some few cases when I need to refer collectively to upper and lower limits.
Top
#193736 - 10/29/10 07:31 PM Re: Exceeding Thresholds in reverse [Re: TheFallibleFiend]
![]()
Carpal Tunnel
![]()
Registered: 12/01/00
Posts: 13658 So if it's commonly used but you still can't think of a way of saying what you want to say, I'd say that there's still a sense of 'getting over' in the minds of those using the term.. If you want to spice up your language maybe something like "under the bar'.
Top
#193754 - 10/30/10 11:27 AM Re: Exceeding Thresholds in reverse [Re: TheFallibleFiend]
![]()
Carpal Tunnel
![]()
Registered: 06/24/02
Posts: 7185
Loc: Vermont sounds like we're in limbo...._________________________
formerly known as etaoin...
Top
#193755 - 10/30/10 01:35 PM Re: Exceeding Thresholds in reverse [Re: TheFallibleFiend]
![]()
Carpal Tunnel
![]()
Registered: 12/01/00
Posts: 13658 Heh
Top
#193756 - 10/30/10 04:31 PM Re: Exceeding Thresholds in reverse [Re: Buffalo Shrdlu]
![]()
veteran
![]()
Registered: 01/23/02
Posts: 1523
Loc: Virginia, USA cute
Top
Moderator: Jackie
Forum Stats 8430 Members
16 Forums
13688 Topics
209820 Posts
Max Online: 3341 @ 12/09/11 02:15 PM
Newest Members supermatthias, prabakaran, sce, Eva, sylviasuper
8430 Registered Users
Who's Online 0 registered (), 44 Guests and 1 Spider online. Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Top Posters (30 Days)
LukeJavan8 87 jenny jenny 62 wofahulicodoc 60 endymion6 51 Rhubarb Commando 37 BranShea 32 Buffalo Shrdlu 15 Faldage 15 zmjezhd 13 teepee 11
May Su M Tu W Th F Sa 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
Board Rules · Mark all read Contact Us · Wordsmith.org · Top
Disclaimer: Wordsmith.org is not responsible for views expressed on this site. Use of this forum is at your own risk and liability - you agree to hold Wordsmith.org and its associates harmless as a condition of using it.
Home | Today's Word | Yesterday's Word | Subscribe | FAQ | Archives | Search | Feedback
Wordsmith Talk | Wordsmith Chat© 2013 Wordsmith
Previous Topic
Index