One-off vs. One-of (was Re: CPU design at the gate level)

From: Fred Cisin <cisin_at_xenosoft.com>
Date: Fri Nov 2 21:34:12 2001

The phrase has been around more than 30 years, even if you kids have been
hanging out amongst those who don't use it.

--
Grumpy Ol' Fred        cisin_at_xenosoft.com
On Fri, 2 Nov 2001, Richard Erlacher wrote:
> Well, that's interesting for sure.  Having been in engineering since 1963, I
> have to say I've heard the term "one-of" countless times, since that's been the
> main thrust of my work since that time, and it is short for one-of-a-kind, while
> I started running into the term "one-off" only in the past decade, and, in fact,
> have never actually heard it used, only having seen it written.  For that
> reason, I always thought of it as one of the countless spelling errors one runs
> into in the engineering community more and more as engineers are taught to be
> literate less and less.
> 
> It surprises me, of course, that a term could be so widely understood, yet used
> so seldom by those with whom I've worked, over the past three decades and more,
> that I've never heard it used, even once, that I can recall.
> 
> I've heard that explanation a number of times, but still am uncomfortable with
> it, as it seems to me to be a misuse/abuse of the language.  Perhaps I'm being
> too pedantic.
> 
> Dick
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Ethan Dicks" <erd_6502_at_yahoo.com>
> To: <classiccmp_at_classiccmp.org>
> Sent: Friday, November 02, 2001 4:22 PM
> Subject: One-off vs. One-of (was Re: CPU design at the gate level)
> 
> 
> >
> > --- Richard Erlacher <edick_at_idcomm.com> wrote:
> > > Unfortunately for the builders of "one-of's," like me (spelled one-off's
> > > in some places, for reasons I don't understand)...
> >
> > It's not just spelled "one-off", it's pronounced "one-off" - as in
> > "Wan Awf", not "Wan Ov".  It's an engineer's term for a prototype.
> >
> > I think you are interpreting it as short for "one of a kind" which I
> > don't think it is exactly an abbreviation for.  It might be short for
> > "run one off the assembly line and stop", though.
> >
> > Not sure of the history, but it really is "one-off".  I first heard the
> > term used 17 years ago, not that _it_ was new to the industry, but _I_
> > was new, then.
> >
> > -ethan
> >

Received on Fri Nov 02 2001 - 21:34:12 GMT