Engine or Motor?

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Originally Posted By: rg200amp
It could be either or.

Motor is fine to use.

Engine is fine to use.


also engine is not just for things that use fuel.
What about a Gaming Engine?


The people who FAIL students that use the word motor insted of engine need to be smacked with a lead pipe.
Motor Trend, Ford Motor company, Motor oil companys all use motor. If the shop teachers who have way more know how and experience then Car makers, and magazine makers since they teach SHOP have a problem with it, they should go pound sand.


Wow, great attitude.

Just because they are used either way does not mean it is correct. In a technical/engineering sense they are different. In the English language there are many exceptions and as language changes so do the meanings of the words we use.

Another example is Buffalo and Bison. They are two different animals just like a Lion and a Tiger are different animals. Yet people often use either Bison or Buffalo to refer to the same animal.
 
Originally Posted By: oldmaninsc
If that is the case wouldn't saying "electric motor" be redundant?


"Electric motor" is used, but so is hydraulic motor.

Usually, they're High Voltage, Low Voltage, or actuator motors.
 
Originally Posted By: Junior
Originally Posted By: rg200amp
It could be either or.

Motor is fine to use.

Engine is fine to use.


also engine is not just for things that use fuel.
What about a Gaming Engine?


The people who FAIL students that use the word motor insted of engine need to be smacked with a lead pipe.
Motor Trend, Ford Motor company, Motor oil companys all use motor. If the shop teachers who have way more know how and experience then Car makers, and magazine makers since they teach SHOP have a problem with it, they should go pound sand.


Wow, great attitude.

Just because they are used either way does not mean it is correct. In a technical/engineering sense they are different. In the English language there are many exceptions and as language changes so do the meanings of the words we use.

Another example is Buffalo and Bison. They are two different animals just like a Lion and a Tiger are different animals. Yet people often use either Bison or Buffalo to refer to the same animal.



Yea, dont take me too seriously!!
wink.gif


Its just so many people use motor insted of engine. If the majority uses it, then it is fine. Motor companies, oil companies, and books/magazines use motor rather then engine.

Just like a
clip = magazine
buck = dollar
Round = bullet
ECT...................
 
Last edited:
Originally Posted By: rg200amp
clip = magazine


There is a movement to correct this since clips and magazines are completely different devices.
 
Originally Posted By: Shannow
Originally Posted By: oldmaninsc
If that is the case wouldn't saying "electric motor" be redundant?


"Electric motor" is used, but so is hydraulic motor.

Usually, they're High Voltage, Low Voltage, or actuator motors.


Don't forget vacuum motors...
 
Originally Posted By: rg200amp
...
Its just so many people use motor insted of engine. If the majority uses it, then it is fine. Motor companies, oil companies, and books/magazines use motor rather then engine.

Just like a
clip = magazine
buck = dollar
Round = bullet
...


NO!!!! I guess I'm "old school," but I subscribe to the "prescritpive" theory of dictionary writing, not the "descriptive" theory. The last dictionary that was explicitly written from the prescriptive approach was Websters 2nd, the last versions of which were printed in the first third of the last century (IIRC). I did a lot of hunting, and paid a pretty penny for a copy that's now almost 90 years old.

Of course, the language does evolve, but it must do so within bounds, or we run the risk of descending into linguistic chaos. Just look at what's happened to the term "synthetic" following the "anything goes" descriptive approach. At least in the context of oil, the term now means virtually nothing.

Although gasoline engines are often called "motors", I will stick with engine. "Motors" for me are the electrical part of my car. I hope we don't get to the point where no one knows what you mean when you say "motor" or "engine".

We should really be more careful in how we use language. Today, if you ask for "synthetic" oil, you really have no idea what you'll get in response. As the owner of a car that has both "motors" and an "engine" in it, I hope the techs will always know the difference when I ask about my "motors" or my "engine".

Additionally, clips and magazines are different things -- but how many still know that?

Bucks may be dollars, deer, or a county in PA, this is a different issue -- synonyms, you just have to learn them, English is a tough language.

And round is even rounder -- it may be a noun, an adjective, or even a verb. And I suppose if you try, you can round it into an adverb too... OK, I'll just stop now.....
wink.gif
 
Part of it goes to showing that you are educated in a field, speaking the same language as experts in a profession, indicating that you give a _________.

for instance;
knowing that a clip and a magazine are not the same and referring to a pistol as a "pistol" and a rifle as a "rifle", instead of generic "gun" shows very subtlety that you might know a little something.

writing 1NOV08 and 1900hrs subtly indicates you've been around the military.

sometimes you can show that you don't know what you are talking about. Using the term teflon instead of PTFE or cardboard instead of corrugate around people who work in those fields and you are telling them more then what is coming out of your mouth.


referring to an engine as a motor may be acceptable nomenclature, but to some you will always be wrong and give the impression you don't know what you are talking about.
 
Originally Posted By: tom slick
speaking the same language as experts in a profession


The word you are looking for is "jargon."
 
Quote:
The word you are looking for is "jargon."


Or "Technobabble".
 
Last edited:
Originally Posted By: tom slick
Part of it goes to showing that you are educated in a field, speaking the same language as experts in a profession, indicating that you give a _________.

for instance;
knowing that a clip and a magazine are not the same and referring to a pistol as a "pistol" and a rifle as a "rifle", instead of generic "gun" shows very subtlety that you might know a little something.

writing 1NOV08 and 1900hrs subtly indicates you've been around the military.

sometimes you can show that you don't know what you are talking about. Using the term teflon instead of PTFE or cardboard instead of corrugate around people who work in those fields and you are telling them more then what is coming out of your mouth.


referring to an engine as a motor may be acceptable nomenclature, but to some you will always be wrong and give the impression you don't know what you are talking about.


Or when you type teflon rather than Teflon® :)

(just a friendly ribbing) :)
 
I laugh at all the idiots that use Velcro! It's hook and loop tape doofus!
smirk2.gif


Likewise, I chastised my girlfriend for calling her copy machine a Xerox! It's not a Xerox unless it's a Xerox! People in the copy machine industry just know she's an idiot as soon as she opens her mouth! I'm so embarrased.
 
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