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Creating new words

Authors occasionally are required to name a new or unique condition, function, process, or item that is dissimilar in someway to anything previously known. Lazy authors consider the words in its preliminary definition and choose one of them for the name. The result, for example, is the use of "memory" to name computer RAM chip capacity and hard drive data-storage capacity. Memory is also the name for the ability of a metal object, bent out of shape, to return to its manufactured shape with a change in temperature. For someone who is only familiar with the traditional definition of memory as relating to a mental faculty, they will not be able to respond to this question: "how much memory does your computer have?"

Creative authors also consider the definition; then create a name that both classifies and differentiates the condition, function, process, or item from anything that is in some way similar. When creating new words, make them short, easily pronounced and unique.

When using a new word there is a responsibility to the reader to include its definition.

Example 1:

Techdeflation. Short for "Technical Deflation," the condition which results from accelerated technical change. The word combines technology, loss of value, and diminished capacity for growth. Everyone experiences techdeflation's effect when they consider maintaining, upgrading or replacing their current personal computer. "What do you need and what do you want," are the questions; "what can you afford," is the answer.

Example 2:

Any substitutes for these words?:

• Addon. Or "Add-on," is something that enhances the current capabilities or capacities or permits the adaptation of new ones.
• Case. Case-in-point: just-in-case you don't have your case notes when you make your case in court, you can always carry them in the laptop computer; its case is small enough to fit inside your briefcase.
• Card. The Joker said he had the card I needed to play; but, all I could see was a computer and I knew all it needed was a new board.
• Check. "Check it out." The checkmark indicated that I owed some money, so I filled out a check but forgot to use a spellchecker to spellcheck the check.
• Drive. I did not drive the car, but walked up the drive with the drive in my pocket because there was no device driver to make it work with my computer.
• Memory. The message onscreen said I need more memory. But I can't remember how much memory I have for applications and how much for data storage. Memory can be wonderful if you got it and can remember to use it.
• Object. Why didn't anyone object to object programing. Sure you pick up an object, copy and move it; but, you can't put it on your head or under your bed.
• Peripheral. On the Periphery of the network landscape, the lonely peripheral was forgotten because it was peripheral to the work flow.
• Place. Before I left the place, I placed a call but forgot to place the phone back on the desk.
• Point. The pointer made its point on the desktop. It was well made, well received and taken; but she didn't get the point because, as was pointed outwit was a case in point and try as hard as she could, no ink flowed from her pen point.
• Plugin. You said I should plug in the plug in so that the colors in my hair look as nice onscreen and on paper as on me. So I looked in the box for a plug, but there was only a disk and it didn't even make the air smell nice.
  

Comment 1:

Some Americans feel it is their duty to make up new words and/or to help popularize them. But too often people use the same word or sound to mean many different things. How unimaginable.

Approximately 95 percent of the internet's content is posted in English. Should the exclusively-English-speaking people not seek to enrich the English language with words taken from other languages that better communicate new and diverse concepts. This may be preferable to extending the definitions of English words, as so frequently occurs.

There are many words with definitions stretched far beyond their original concept. It is conceivable (to me) that someday you will find words with full page definitions; for example, "Networking." There is networking hardware with adapters and cables. Networking software applications (and features of applications). Networking of businesses within industries and between industries. Networking roads and rail lines. Networking passengers, shoppers and students. Networking interpersonal relationships (business, social, political and educational networking).

The word "Web" has often been substituted for "network." (The capitalization differentiates it from "what a tangled web we weave" ) With the Internet and the World Wide Web, there are more industrious spiders, sticky webs and nearsighted flies than

even nature could devise. (Please don't report this condition to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, they might invoke the Endangered Species Act to justify extending its power to communications like most of the other governmental agencies have done.)

Comment 2:

Political Correctness dictates the title Actor for both males and females. The assumption is that dressing rooms need not be labeled as for Actor or Actress because males and females are expected to use the same facilities at the same time. (In a Socialist world, modesty is not permitted. The state owns your body and your thoughts. Two families to each room.) We are not to notice the physical difference between males and females. (If your eyes offend you, pluck them out!) The consideration for new words should not be what is "correct," as by Socialist dogma, but what sounds reasonable.

Things in some languages, often by obscure associations, have male or female endings. In the English language, with so many sources of words including our own imagination, things associated primarily with each sex often have entirely different words; for example, panties (female) and underpants (male), blouse (female) and shirt (male).

When it comes to professional or social titles, it is reasonable to assume that some females would be offended by the inclusion of the suffix "man," even if few could ever qualify for the title; e.g., Chairman of a men's club. "Sex-norming" dictates that "person" is an acceptable substitute whenever there is a possibility that a female could be involved. A suffix is better than no suffix; "Chairperson" is acceptable, "Chair" is not. Without a suffix, there is only confusion. "The Chair said ."

Comment 3:

Prefixes and suffixes associated to specific industries and interests partially define the words to which they are attached. Are there are too many "cyber ," too many "compu ," and "tech ?" No. Not if the new compound words are faithful to the core concept. This is the reason for using Latin and Greek words to derive names that accurately describe the structures, features and processes of plants, animals and the physical universe.

Examples:

• air-, for transportation vehicles through the atmosphere; i.e. airplanes
• aero-, for transportation vehicles through the atmosphere; specifically airplanes and ground-to-space craft
• agri-, for agricultural, farming, plants
• astro-, for space-related concepts, procedures, products and people
• bio-, for biology, medicine
• edu-, for education and related products, processes and procedures
• enviro-, for environment
• compu-, for computers and computing activities
• com-, for communications and computer-related equipment and processes
• cyber-, for Internet and computer-related telecommunications
• law-, for law
• med-, for medical related products, processes and procedures
• ocean-, for research, processes, equipment, transportation and services related to the ocean environment
• sea-, for creatures, plants, research, processes, equipment, transportation and services related to the ocean environment
• space-, equipment, processes and services related to space
• tech-, for computers and new scientific developments
• tele-, for telecommunications
• tran-, for transportation-related ideas and products

When considering words to describe a new device or process, consult a good dictionary. Most will include a history of language development as well as the derivation of individual words. You should find some good ideas there. If you are not French, perhaps you should avoid the French language as a source for a new word unless the word is unique, accurate and succinct. The French government would not be pleased, unless they originated the word not you. They would probably make using the word illegal in France! Remember, you may want to live there someday. (In 1998 the French government, braving language traditionalists, began feminizing job titles for women, ending the practice that male job titles take precedence even when the worker is a woman.)

Comment 4:

To replace an old inappropriate word, you must understand its original intent describing a generally recognized function. A parallel interface, a parallel cable, a serial interface, a serial cable. Beyond the words cable and interface, most people could not tell the difference. But that's not so bad.

There are many interfaces used to send signals in parallel through a cable, including SCSI. And serial communications includes the USB (Universal Serial Bus). MacOS people have long benefited from their serial ADB (Apple Desktop Bus) interface for keyboard, mouse, joystick and controlling appliances throughout their homes. The USB is more capable; it has replaced the ADB used in MacOS systems; as well as, the parallel and serial interfaces used in Windows-based systems.

Comment 5:

Too often people use the same word or sound to mean many different things. If you are not born to the language, a translation is helpful. In developing the Web, we are in a unique position to communicate with people in many nations who speak many languages. It is to our advantage and everyone's that they communicate in English, the defacto universal language.

When hardware and software engineers develop new products, refine and enhance old concepts, they have a choice in the words they use to describe what they have accomplished.

Too often, they are unimaginative and simply reuse familiar words. For example: MEMORY. My system has 40 Megabytes of memory. Well, is that the capacity of the computer's (only) hard drive? Is it RAM capacity (minus any specialized RAM capacity, like video RAM or the cache on its drive controllerboard)?

Or is it another name for one of an "Agent's" feature sets? "I'll have my Agent call yours to arrange lunch next week." Well, if both people have computers with agent utilities, it would be clear what they were communicating. But, if one was a "starving Actor," and the other a movie Producer, well.

"Avatar" is an excellent substitute for "Agent," because it is an embodiment or incarnation that crosses over between realities (from god to man from computer to user). Eventually, such utilities will gain personalities. Then you might hear: "I'll have Fido call you to arrange it." Later that day, the Producer's secretary picks up the phone. Do you know what she hears? A dog barking? No!, Pops and clicks indicating a modem or fax is seeking communicate with another of its kind. No! A human voice? Perhaps. But is it human or a the synthesized speech generated by cleverly written algorithmic code?

Comment 6:

The debate should not be over how many people speak English. In all the countries of the world, English, if not the first language studied in school, it is usually the second. Although, choices are made between American English and British English, both dialects are not exclusive in linguistically evolutionary terms.

Perhaps, the pilot of a Chinese airline jet that crashed in LA a few years ago, learned British English. During the crisis, he may have become confused trying to understand the Ground Controller's American English. A pilot from Japan, on the other hand, would probably speak American English.

At the time of the founding of the USA, there was a choice made to keep the then current spelling conventions which maintained the inflections (letter sounds), stresses and omissions used by the people contributing words to the English language. Polish,

German, Spanish, French, Dutch, Scandinavian, etc., all use different pronunciations for many letter combinations. This choice makes it easier to add words to American English regardless of their original language.

Most English speaking people would prefer that individual letters and combinations of letters have distinct universal sounds. But 26 letters is insufficient, even with accents which are, unfortunately, absent in printed American English.

No doubt China, India, Mexico, and every other nation will contribute words in the future describing new products, processes and substances. If, for example, Japan colonizes Mars, many new English words of Nipponese origin would be added to communicate their efforts to transform that planet's atmosphere closer to Earth's ("teraforming").

It is both a question of popularity and necessity when new words are added to English, the universal language. Of new words, acronyms are the most likely for people to formulate and popularize.

A new word should be as brief in pronunciation as the original, preferably shorter. And, the substitute word should be unique.

"Creating new words" and other concepts are thoroughly explored in the book: Technical Writing with Style.

New "combined" words

Prefixes and suffixes are the primary building blocks for many words. The definitions of such words include the prefix or suffix concepts. Familiarity with a prefix or suffix concept makes it easy for readers to learn and use a new word that includes it. But prefixes and suffixes are insufficient to fulfill an evolving culture's need for new words.

New words can be constructed by combining all or part of two or more existing words. The combination implies, but does not require, that the new word's definition include those of its parts. In use, such words may evolve unique definitions as so often occurs with verb-verb, adverb-verb and verb-adverb combinations; e.g.: callout, jumpstart and overview. Noun-noun, adjective-noun and noun-adjective combinations seem to be more faithful to their derivations; e.g.: cashmachine and addressbook.

The construction process sometimes begins with a period of time during which the word parts are hyphenated together. The frequency of use for such constructs determines their transition into single words if it ever occurs. It is a mater of consensus. The more often you see a combined single word, the more likely you will favor using it rather than its hyphenated form.

Most dictionaries research new words by calculating how frequently they are used in publications; as well as their implied meanings. When they note both a high frequency of use and stability in meaning, the new word will be included in the dictionary. Dictionaries give new words their stamp of propriety after you the writer have given it yours through your use of the word.

Rather than using two or three words separately or hyphenated, combine them into one word:

• a. If the combined word is a noun or can be better used as a noun;
  b. If it is an idiomatic expression easily combined; or
  c. Whenever the individual words have no relationship to the what is being communicated.

Examples of logical word combinations:

• Addressbook, not address book
• Allinone, not all in one
• Anyone, not any one
• Anything, not any thing
• Anytime, not anytime
• Automobile, not auto mobile (What is "auto" without the mobile? A prefix. In use, the prefix (for: of or by oneself; self; by oneself or itself) became a acronym for the word car.)
• Adapterboard, not adapter board (The board adds new capabilities to the device in which it is installed.)
• Assemblyline, not assembly line
• Background, not back ground
• Bandwidth, not band width
• Batchfile, not batch file or batch-file
• Board not card for describing circuitboards. (A board is rigid, a card is flexible. A board is large, a card is small. A board, such as a SIMM, fits into a computer's internal bus slot. Card usually refers to a device with card-edge connectors which are inserted into an external interface; e.g.: a PCcard (formerly named: PCMCIA card) device.
• Breakaway, not break-away
• Breakthrough, not break through
• Builtin, not built in or built-in
• Bulletinboard, not bulletin board or bullet-in-board (although the last may be the derivation of the word)
• Callout, not call out (This page layout element, a noun, has no past tense so it cannot be called or shouted although the size, font, color and position of the text can definitely attract a reader's attention.)
• Carboncopy, not carbon copy
• Caseinpoint, rather than case-in-point
• Cashmachine, not cash machine
• Chipset, not chip set
• Circuitboard, not circuit board
• Colorpalette, not color palette
• Commandline, not command line
• Compactdisk or "CD," not compact disk or "disk" (Insert the CD into the drive.)
• Controlpanel, not control panel
• Countryside, not country side (It may have derived from: "country side opposite the city side of a river or railroad track." )
• Coworker, not co-worker
• Crossplatform, not cross platform or cross-platform
• Crossroad, not cross road
• Crossreference, not cross reference
• Cuttingedge, not cutting edge
• Database, not Data Base or Data-base "DB," may be used instead of database; both have two syllables and may be used when speaking to people who would question their meaning "What is it?"
• Datastorage, rather than data-storage
• Datatransfer, rather than data-transfer
• Desktop, not desk top (Onscreen you can't carve your initials with a penknife.)
• Devicedriver (or "driver"), not device driver or device-driver
• Download, not down-load
• Downstream, not down-stream
• Eachother, not each other
• Electrostatic, not electro-static
• Enduser, not end-user; but "user" is preferable to using enduser
• Everyone, not every one
• Everybody, not every body
• Everything, not every thing (unless "thing" is the subject of the sentence)
• Exceptable, not except able
• Expansionboard, not expansion board (A circuitboard that increases the current capabilities of the device it which it is installed.)
• Fiberoptic, not fiber optic
• Fileformat, rather than file format
• Filename, not file name
• Firewall, not fire wall
• Floppydrive, not floppy drive (What is a drive? How does it differ from taking a drive? Or learning to drive? Or driving?)
• Flowchart, not flow chart
• Freeware, not free ware
• Fullscreen, not full-screen
• Harddrive, not hard drive
• Handcontroller, not hand-controller
• Handheld, not hand held or hand-held (A small object or device that can be used while being held in a hand; as a small computer.)
• Hardware, not hard ware
• Heavyduty, not heavy duty
• Highspeed, not high speed. (How "fast" can you get high, and how high would you be?)
• Hightech, not high tech
• Highway, not high way
• Homepage, not Home page
• Interchangeable, not inter-changeable
• IO or I/O, is preferred to "input-output"
• Input, not in-put
• Joystick, not joy stick
• Jumpstart, not jump start
• Keyboard, not Key board
• Keystroke, not key-stroke
• Keyword, not key word
• Leadingedge, not leading-edge
• Lifelike, not life-like
• Lifesize, not life-size
• Lifesized not life-sized
• Lifestyle, not life-style
• Listen, not listen-up (Used to introduce a statement to people who are ignoring you.)
• Logicboard, not logic board or logic-board
• Lookup, not look up Instead, use find, because the past tense is not lookedup or look-uped, but found
• Mainframe, not main frame (computer)
• Messageboard, not message board
• Microcomputer (or "micro" ), not micro computer
• Multimedia, not multi-media
• Newsgroup (abbreviated as NG), not News group
• Nosering, not nose ring (Symbolic of the Democrat Party's tradeoff: unlimited sexual freedom for limited personal, property, and economic freedom)
• Notepad, not note pad (small pad of paper; software for recording small amounts of information; small, specialized computer.)
• Online, not on-line
• Operatingsystem, "OS," or "opsys;" better than operating system
• Onscreen, not on screen or on-screen (An image is not physically sitting on the screen unlike dust or fingerprints.)
• OS or "opsys" is preferred to "operating system"
• Output, not out-put
• Outputed, not out-puted
• Overlook, not over look (You can neglect to see (overlook) over an overlook at the countryside below.)
• Overview, not over view
• Overviewed, not overed view
• Plug (verb); past tense: plugged. Plug the hole, not plug-in or plug in the hole.
• Plugin (noun--a software product), not a plug-in or a plug in
• Popup, not pop-up or pop up (menu)
• Popuped, not popped-up, pop-uped or pop uped
• Power, rather than poweron or powered on
• Powerful, not power full
• Poweroff, not turn off (There is nothing to turn or remove. The past tense can be either: poweroffed, or depowered, but not turned off or unpowered.)
• Poweroffed, not powered-off, or power offed
• Poweron, not power on or turn on
• Poweroned, not powered-on or power-oned
• Powersupply, not power supply or power-supply
• Punchline, not punch line
• Referencebox, not reference box
• Screenname, not screen name
• Selftest, not self test or self-test
• Selftested, not self tested or self-tested
• Servicecenter, not service center
• Shareware, not share ware
• Shortcut, not short cut
• Shorthand, not short hand
• Sidebar, not side bar or side-bar
• Software, not soft ware
• Solidstate, not solid state or solid-state
• Spellcheck, not spell check
• Spellchecked, not spelled check
• Spellchecker, not spell checker
• Spreadsheet, not Spread sheet
• Standalone, not stand alone
• Start, rather than startup
• Startup, not start up or start-up (You don't begin-up.)
• Stylebook, not style book
• Stylesheet, not style sheet
• Systemboard, not system board or system-board
• Takeapart, not take apart
• Telephone, not tele phone
• Telephoned, not teled phone
• Timeline, not time line
• Timezone, not time zone
• Titlebar, not title bar
• Tracewire, not trace wire
• Trailingedge, not trailing-edge
• Tune, not tuneup or tune-up
• Typeface, not type face
• Update, not up date
• Upgrade, not up-grade or up grade
• Upgraded, not up-graded
• Upload, not up-load
• Upstream, not up-stream
• Webpage, not Web page
• Website, not Web site
• Wordprocessor, not word processor
• Workable, not work-able
• Workbench, not work bench
• Workday, not work day
• Workload, not work-load
• Workman, not work man
• Workroom, not work room
• Workmanship, not work-man-ship
• Workstation, not work station
• Worksurface, not work surface
• Writeprotect, not write-protect
• Writeprotected, not write-protected

"New combined words" and other concepts are thoroughly explored in the book: Technical Writing with Style.

Questionable word combinations

Some double- and triple-word combinations are questionable:

a. If the first word can be considered an adjective describing the noun that follows it;

b. If you combine them, the new word would be either too long (for anyone who does not speak German);

c. Have too many syllables; or

d. If most readers expect them to be separated.

Examples:

• Dotmatrixprinter or dotmatrix printer or dot matrix?
• Inkjetprinter or inkjet printer or ink-jet printer?
• Laserprinter or laser printer?
• Parallelcable or parallel cable?
• Parallelinterface or parallel interface?
• Serialcable or serial cable?
• Serialinterface or serial interface?

Comments:

English language dictionaries are updated each year with many new words that through frequent use have become common. Consider adding these "new" words to your application's User Dictionary. If they are not already there, you may find them in the future version.

"Questionable word combinations" and other concepts are thoroughly explored in the book: Technical Writing with Style.

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