OT - annoying language problems at work

[ar81]

Read this "It is also important for the team to be aware of the quality parameters and the areas qualified".
I read that and I say "WHAT!!!???"
To me, it is a horrendous mistake.

These are horrendous mistakes I have found at work.

"Qualified" instead of "Evaluated" (It is also important for the team to be aware of the quality parameters and the
areas qualified)
"Programation" instead of "Programming"
"Replay" instead of "Reply"
"Points" instead of "items" (the points being evaluated)
"Information missing" instead of "Missing information"
Focus (pronounced as "f**k us" instead of "focus")

The most horrible thing is that we have english speaking customers.

Could you tell me if I am mistaken, or if THEY are mistaken.
To me those are mistakes.
Also I would like to know about horrible mistakes you have heard.

In the specific case of "qualified" a coworker insisted in the point he is right.  He mentioned a book named something
like "Fundametals of grammar", but I have doubts...

[Simonpro]

He probably is right. Qualified and evaluated have substantially different meanings. It's impossible to determine which is
more likely without a broader context than you have given here, though.

[ar81]

The context goes as follows.
I designed a tool to make a simple quality evaluation of our service.  You have customer requests, services, tasks and
items that must be evaluated as true or false (approved/rejected).
So what he means with "area" is a task and "qualified" is "evaluated" as true or false, using my tool.

[Ursus]

"Qualified" could be considered a valid term in this case... but it would be a stretch, and I certainly
wouldn't consider it to be the best term to use.

From WordNet (r) 2.0 : ( on http://www.dict.org )

  qualify
       6: describe or portray the character or the qualities or
          peculiarities of; "You can characterize his behavior as
          that of an egotist"; "This poem can be characterized as a
          lament for a dead lover" [syn: characterize, characterise]

hmmm... actually this might come closer...


From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Qualify \Qual"i*fy\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Qualified; p. pr. &
     vb. n. Qualifying.] [F. qualifier, LL. qualificare, fr. L.
     qualis how constituted, as + -ficare (in comp.) to make. See
     Quality, and -Fy.]
     3. To reduce from a general, undefined, or comprehensive
        form, to particular or restricted form; to modify; to
        limit; to restrict; to restrain; as, to qualify a
        statement, claim, or proposition.
        [1913 Webster]

[ar81]

You would not "qualify" an exam.
You need to evaluate each question and see if questions are right or wrong to calculate a grade.
To me, "evaluated" is a better term.

The questions being evaluated, or the areas being evaluated, not qualified.

[Dig Gil]

ar81 wrote:

In the specific case of "qualified" a coworker insisted in the point he is right.  He mentioned a book named something
like "Fundametals of grammar", but I have doubts...

That happens between me and my teacher very often...

[Simonpro]

It still depends on what he's meaning. If he is saying you need to be aware of everything then evaluated is the right word.
If he's saying that you should be paying attention to the areas that have been evaluated to be correct (i.e: qualified) then
his wording is correct.
No matter what he is meaning the sentence is somewhat badly constructed, as can be seen from none of us here knowing what
version of it you mean.

Also, you wouldn't "evaluate" an exam either (unless you're marking it). You "take" an exam, which is then "evaluated" by the
teacher, and if you have done well enough then you are "qualified" from that particular exam.

[Urwumpe]

Simonpro a écrit:
Also, you wouldn't "evaluate" an exam either (unless you're marking it). You "take" an exam, which is
then "evaluated" by the
teacher, and if you have done well enough then you are "qualified" from that particular exam.

A really good example of the words and their meaning!

Evaluate = test some condition without caring if its good or bad
Qualify = test some condition if it meets specifications or other attributes.
Qualified = After some tests, this object met the specifications or other conditions.

Being qualified for work does not mean, that you are capable of doing it, but that you have been tested and certified that
you can do this work. Thats a lot of paperwork difference. I can drive a tank, but I am not qualified to do so.

[Dig Gil]

Like I say "Words are took by the wind.".

[ar81]

Some more live examples I got today


"Form" instead of "Way" (It shows the result in a summarized form)

"The report sheet is where the information will be display. Also, after report is generated all the calculations for the
agent´s performance will be display here."

Or look at this

"The Mecanic of the process:With the List of codes already pasted in the report sheet and the Evalution form already
actived ( pressing Ctrl+shift+Q) the Q op mos proced as follow"

...or how about "press the Apply buttom".

...or "assignations" instead of "assignments".



Post Edited ( 02-22-08 21:45 )

[Urwumpe]

Sounds like he is the very model of a modern major-general.

But I would be lucky that he uses a language, which tells you in exact words what he wants from you.

[Simonpro]

Actually "form" is a much more correct word than "way" in your first example. "form" is the formal word  used in that type of
sentence, and way is a much less formal (and much more recent) usage.