Settle a debate

Edrof · 12 Oct 2011 at 11:16

Robbie G said:
Having worked in a manufacturing company that always used '100 off please mate', I can say that in industry off is accepted.

Obviously gramatically it's 'of', but not everything is always that simple. There are probably loads of similar examples (none spring to mind!).

jellybeard999 said:
I'd use "of", but my dad will write "off" (pronounced of though, I believe) and he works in engineering.

Hmm, interesting. D'you think that's just because someone started using 'off' incorrectly and it was 'passed down'?

jellybeard999 · 12 Oct 2011 at 11:19

Edrof said:
Hmm, interesting. D'you think that's just because someone started using 'off' incorrectly and it was 'passed down'?

Not sure, it's not just him though, it's used on, for example, delivery notes etc from suppliers.

According to http://www.usingenglish.com/forum/a...f-indicate-quantity-acceptable-usage-not.html it's a historic thing :confused:

krooton · 12 Oct 2011 at 11:19

Whilst it might be accepted in engineering fields, could they at least explain why?

Stretch · 12 Oct 2011 at 11:20

Didn't we already have this debate?

It came down to if you're a regular person it's "X of" but some professions such as engineering have used and continue to use "X off"?

The Dread Pirate · 12 Oct 2011 at 11:22

Quantities of what?

It may make all the difference!

Stretch · 12 Oct 2011 at 11:23

Capn' $qu!ff said:
Quantities of what?

It may make all the difference!

It does?

Participant · 12 Oct 2011 at 11:25

Maybe it came from '100 off the shelf please merchant'.

shoes · 12 Oct 2011 at 11:36

Call off / call of / take off - all acceptable in my office.

I personally use take off, as I don't call out the quantities, I just take a list of quantities off the drawings.

MD who was born in sixteen thirty-something uses 10 off. etc. and everyone else uses 10 x Product which most find easier to read.

Mat · 12 Oct 2011 at 13:33

Capn' $qu!ff said:
Quantities off what?

It may make all the difference!

Fixorixored!

daz · 12 Oct 2011 at 13:41

I think "off" is/was used to state quantity where it meant 100 off the production line (or words to that effect).

Vonhelmet · 12 Oct 2011 at 13:57

How stupid are the people you are "debating" with that this is even a question?

Participant · 12 Oct 2011 at 13:59

Vonhelmet said:
How stupid are the people you are "debating" with that this is even a question?

Are you saying that it's obviously contextual or obviously 'of'?

Vonhelmet · 12 Oct 2011 at 14:01

Robbie G said:
Are you saying that it's obviously contextual or obviously 'of'?

Reading the thread a bit further it seems to be a pervasive mistake among the engineering community.

Come at me, engineers.

Participant · 12 Oct 2011 at 14:07

I don't see how it's different to any other term used exclusively within an industry but gramatically incorrect. It's only because of / off is a common misspelling that it's such a big deal.