TechWhirl (TECHWR-L) is a resource for technical writing and technical communications professionals of all experience levels and in all industries to share their experiences and acquire information.
For two decades, technical communicators have turned to TechWhirl to ask and answer questions about the always-changing world of technical communications, such as tools, skills, career paths, methodologies, and emerging industries. The TechWhirl Archives and magazine, created for, by and about technical writers, offer a wealth of knowledge to everyone with an interest in any aspect of technical communications.
"Quibbly"? What a lovely word; I shall petition for this to be in the next
OED...
Actually, the US term, "parking brake" is much better. I remember thinking
this at the time. I mean, are you slowing down or stopping your hand? I
don't think so. It's a brake for when you are parked, and "parked brake" is
an awkward phrase.
Common usage doesn't always pick the clearest language...
I could claim ironic use of the phrase "for good reason", but I think I just
let my fingers run away with a cliche. It's "handbrake" for a reason, but
not a good one.
I guess US stuntmen don't pull handbrake turns; and pulling a "parkingbrake
turn" doesn't sound so good (I believe they do "bootlegger turns", which
sounds even better).
Cheers,
Sean M.
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Darren Barefoot [mailto:Darren -dot- Barefoot -at- capeclear -dot- com]
> Sent: 28 August 2001 10:36
> To: Sean MacRae
> Subject: RE: Respect
>
>
> Well, to get quibbly, "hand brake" is not a great name for
> that device,
> given that most automobile terms describe the particular
> function of an item
> with the adjective: steering wheel, rear view mirror, brake
> lights, etc.
> "Hand brake" doesn't really give me any information about its purpose.
> You're right about the French, though. DB.
>
*** Deva(tm) Tools for Dreamweaver and Deva(tm) Search ***
Build Contents, Indexes, and Search for Web Sites and Help Systems
Available now at http://www.devahelp.com or info -at- devahelp -dot- com
A landmark hotel, one of America's most beautiful cities, and
three and a half days of immersion in the state of the art:
IPCC 01, Oct. 24-27 in Santa Fe. http://ieeepcs.org/2001/
---
You are currently subscribed to techwr-l as: archive -at- raycomm -dot- com
To unsubscribe send a blank email to leave-techwr-l-obscured -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com
Send administrative questions to ejray -at- raycomm -dot- com -dot- Visit http://www.raycomm.com/techwhirl/ for more resources and info.
