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Previous Thread Next Thread Print Thread Page 4 of 4 1 2 3 4 #193701 - 10/27/10 03:51 PM Re: Exceeding Thresholds in reverse [Re: TheFallibleFiend]   Joined: Jan 2002 Posts: 1,523 TheFallibleFiend veteran TheFallibleFiend   veteran Joined: Jan 2002 Posts: 1,523 Virginia, USA Boogers. #193703 - 10/27/10 05:50 PM Re: Exceeding Thresholds in reverse [Re: TheFallibleFiend]   Joined: Jun 2006 Posts: 5,295 BranShea Carpal Tunnel BranShea   Carpal Tunnel Joined: Jun 2006 Posts: 5,295 Netherlands, the Hague Plunged? #193705 - 10/27/10 08:02 PM Re: Exceeding Thresholds in reverse [Re: TheFallibleFiend]   Joined: Jun 2002 Posts: 7,210 Buffalo Shrdlu Carpal Tunnel Buffalo Shrdlu   Carpal Tunnel Joined: Jun 2002 Posts: 7,210 Vermont Originally Posted By: TheFallibleFiend Boogers. well, you don't have to have that impression! ;¬ ) formerly known as etaoin... #193710 - 10/28/10 09:35 AM Re: Exceeding Thresholds in reverse [Re: Buffalo Shrdlu]   Joined: Dec 2000 Posts: 13,803 Faldage Carpal Tunnel Faldage   Carpal Tunnel Joined: Dec 2000 Posts: 13,803 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. #193733 - 10/29/10 02:03 PM Re: Exceeding Thresholds in reverse [Re: TheFallibleFiend]   Joined: Jan 2002 Posts: 1,523 TheFallibleFiend veteran TheFallibleFiend   veteran Joined: Jan 2002 Posts: 1,523 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. #193736 - 10/29/10 11:31 PM Re: Exceeding Thresholds in reverse [Re: TheFallibleFiend]   Joined: Dec 2000 Posts: 13,803 Faldage Carpal Tunnel Faldage   Carpal Tunnel Joined: Dec 2000 Posts: 13,803 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'. #193754 - 10/30/10 03:27 PM Re: Exceeding Thresholds in reverse [Re: TheFallibleFiend]   Joined: Jun 2002 Posts: 7,210 Buffalo Shrdlu Carpal Tunnel Buffalo Shrdlu   Carpal Tunnel Joined: Jun 2002 Posts: 7,210 Vermont sounds like we're in limbo.... formerly known as etaoin... #193755 - 10/30/10 05:35 PM Re: Exceeding Thresholds in reverse [Re: TheFallibleFiend]   Joined: Dec 2000 Posts: 13,803 Faldage Carpal Tunnel Faldage   Carpal Tunnel Joined: Dec 2000 Posts: 13,803 Heh #193756 - 10/30/10 08:31 PM Re: Exceeding Thresholds in reverse [Re: Buffalo Shrdlu]   Joined: Jan 2002 Posts: 1,523 TheFallibleFiend veteran TheFallibleFiend   veteran Joined: Jan 2002 Posts: 1,523 Virginia, USA cute Page 4 of 4 1 2 3 4 Moderated by  Jackie  Hop To General Topics ------   Information and announcements   Q&A about words   Wordplay and fun   Words and languages in schools   Miscellany   Weekly Themes   Looking for (writers, speakers, ...) 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