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Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 4
stranger
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OP
stranger
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 4 |
The word processing and technical writing software I use both accept reoccurring during a spell check but are unable to find it in their thesauri. The spell check on this fabulous site, however, does not recognize it and recommends reopen as a replacement but also does not recognize thesaurus. No dictionary I have ever referenced contains it, but the software writers and developers I work with have it sprinkled throughout their test plans and GUI, so I want to be absolutely certain this isn't one of those recent, Prohibition-type (it's not going away so let's make it legal) additions to our burgeoning English language. Any leads are appreciated.
Thanks much,
Diborg
P.S. It feels un-word-like and redundant.
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Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542 |
reoccur, reoccurrence and reoccurring are all probably supererogatory, but have been around since the 1800s.
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Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803 |
The spell check on this fabulous site is a thing unto itself and, through the simple expedient of offering the next word in its list when it finds a word not on its list, proceeds to baffle and amuse the denizens of this fabulous site.
To me, and without looking anything up recurring would have a connotation of regularity that reoccurring would not. Example: He had recurring dreams of returning to the Navy. If symptoms reoccur see your doctor immediately.
For what it's worth, M-W on line, upon being told to look up reoccur gives a whole list of words starting with re- including reoccur but not recur.
Incidentally, the spell check (AKA Ænigma) does not spot reoccur as a misspelling. It gets like this sometimes. It doesn't like words ending in 's for example.
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Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 4
stranger
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OP
stranger
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 4 |
Thanks, tsuwm and Faldage. Ambiguity is a tech writer's nightmare. Guess I'm reluctant to use words I can't nail down in a word bible. Will check out the site you mention, Faldage, and then toss a coin. ;)
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858 |
I agree with Faldage. Many events happen again, often in a predictable way. For this I would use "recur". But some other things that happen again but do so in an unpredictable way, and for unrelated causes, such as hard disk failure, could be called reoccurrences.
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Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803 |
AHD Usage Panel
Boy, howdy! There's just no pleasing some people. Use the same word for two related meanings (less for both counting and measuring comparisons {nemmine that more does perfectly well for both at the other end of the comparison}) and they act like the Vandals are at the gates. Suggest that one word could be used for one added occurrence and another for repeated occurrences and they're like, "No! Let them in! The Vandals are here to save us!"
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Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,146
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,146 |
... and we just lie back and think of England, truly we do ...
The idiot also known as Capfka ...
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Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803 |
we just lie back and think of England, and where England would be today without about three zillion waves of invaders.
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Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,146
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,146 |
and where England would be today without about three zillion waves of invaders.Oh, come on, Faldage! Thats 2.99999999 zillion. Me and 'er indoors is just temp'ry visitors. 'Aven't sacked or pillaged since we got 'ere. Thinking about, it though. Now, how do you sack and pillage an entire bureaucracy? Oh that's right, get elected as a politician! 
The idiot also known as Capfka ...
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