[Fot] checking bearing clearances

[Bill Babcock]

It's a combination of precision and adhering to proper style. Formal  
newspaper style requires that numbers less than ten be written by name  
rather than number. Newspaper and magazine reporters, who didn't wish  
to be spanked by their editors, but who refused to crack the AP book  
of style to double check (claiming exalted professionalism), started  
writing both in their articles claiming the number in parentheses  
confirmed the written number and the editor could just delete the  
superfluous addition (whichever it was). Of course a lot crept through  
while the editors were digesting their hydraulic sandwiches (generally  
a beer and a bump, but at the Times it was certainly three martinis).  
Lawyers and engineers saw them and thought they were cool, and started  
using the form. Then the military in their stilted attempt to combine  
accurate communication with impenetrable jargon adopted it immediately.

So fundamentally every lazy, trend following, neo-conservative, lefty,  
commie, militaristic, geek, ambulance chaser in the world does it from  
time to time.

and of course I made all this up on the fly.

On Feb 1, 2008, at 3:18 PM, John Herrera wrote:

> > with a three (3) point bore gauge.
>
> I have always wondered why do people do this. Is there some kind of  
> legal document reason? What could three mean besides 3?
>
> Do you really think that someone will misinterpret three?  Like  
> three means 4, for example? "Oh, I'm so glad you put that 3 in  
> parentheses next to three. I thought you meant 4!"
>
> Where does this come from? It has that Military feel to it.
>
> John H.

Bill Babcock
Babcock & Jenkins
Billb at bnj.com
503.936.7660
www.bnj.com