pathfinder
|
 posted on 22/11/07 at 07:36 PM |
|
|
Can’t find the answer on google so I’m asking you lot!!!
Had a few strong words today with one of the sales chaps who insists on writing order quantities like this:
20 No M10 bolts
Where as I and every other engineering minded person in the company would write:
20-Off M10 bolts
I know it’s only a minor thing but it’s causing confusion with my staff and it’s starting to wee me off, is his method acceptable? Is this the norm
for some other country or is it a new thing I don’t know about? In all my days it’s only ever been **-Off.
Anyways, whilst chatting to the chap his 19 year old understudy chips in with “it should be OF anyway” in a very patronising manor.
No sweet heart, I think you will find that it’s spelt OFF and always has been!!!
This leads me onto my next question:
Why do we use the word Off to describe quantities???????
Rant over
Answers on a postcard
Cheers
Bye
Thom
|
|
|
|
|
blakep82
|
| posted on 22/11/07 at 07:38 PM |
|
|
good question. often wondered this myself.
'of' would make more sense anyway
________________________
IVA manual link http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/bdotg/action/detail?type=RESOURCES&itemId=1081997083
don't write OT on a new thread title, you're creating the topic, everything you write is very much ON topic!
|
|
|
David Jenkins
|
| posted on 22/11/07 at 07:43 PM |
|
|
It goes back to the days when craftsmen were often illiterate and couldn't/didn't work from drawings. Instead they used patterns made by
toolmakers or pattern-makers.
So the foreman would ask for "10 items off that pattern", or "20 off that model".
|
|
|
Alan B
|
| posted on 22/11/07 at 07:44 PM |
|
|
Yep...always been "off" when I lived in the UK..
Over here in the US they use EA (short for each)...again, seems illogical.
Personally I prefer QTY followed by the number..or QTY as the BOM heading....
So that's clarified things a lot...
|
|
|
caber
|
| posted on 22/11/07 at 07:53 PM |
|
|
I have used both, 20No, is a contraction of twenty number.
Caber
|
|
|
theconrodkid
|
| posted on 22/11/07 at 07:54 PM |
|
|
i use times (x),but then again i cant speel
who cares who wins
pass the pork pies
|
|
|
Keith Weiland
|
| posted on 22/11/07 at 08:15 PM |
|
|
I say take it outside and the one that is standing at the end is right.
|
|
|
balidey
|
| posted on 22/11/07 at 08:19 PM |
|
|
Does he does this a lot or is it a 1No ?
Sorry, I meant one off
|
|
|
smart51
|
| posted on 22/11/07 at 08:48 PM |
|
|
I read 20 No M10 as 20 number 10. Wood screws are sized Number 10 and Number 8 etc.
20 off is the usual way of writing a quantity but it doesn't make literal sense.
|
|
|
tom_loughlin
|
| posted on 22/11/07 at 08:52 PM |
|
|
Definitely 20 off in the uk - but on the continent, they struggle with that, so say '20 No'.
confusing i know
|
|
|
britishtrident
|
| posted on 22/11/07 at 08:58 PM |
|
|
"Off" come originally from lathe work --- "parting off" from bar stock.
|
|
|
iank
|
| posted on 22/11/07 at 09:13 PM |
|
|
The word 'off' has 56 distinct meanings according to:
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/off
Number 17 is
17. so as to be delineated, divided, or apportioned: Mark it off into equal parts.
The etymology of that form isn't given so it could come from any of the suggestions given so far, or they could be examples of its use, but is
undeniably correct and logical if possibly a little old fashioned.
--
Never argue with an idiot. They drag you down to their level, then beat you with experience.
Anonymous
|
|
|
nick205
|
| posted on 22/11/07 at 09:27 PM |
|
|
I've come across both "off" and "No" from different people, but always use "off" myself.
|
|
|
dhutch
|
| posted on 22/11/07 at 09:33 PM |
|
|
Yeah, its 20off where i come from too.
- Certainly that what i use when im ordering timber and materials like that, or a few large parts.
- Then when you get onto a whole load of stuff, or a parts list on a dwg, than its a tabulated BOM, with a heading of QTY.
Ive also used, and seen used the and 'x' or an '*' used.
- And in 20xM10bolt or 20*M10bolt, or even x20 M10bolt.
- But that does get confusing when your then also detailing lenght and pitch of the bolt.
You could end up with 20xM10x25x1.25
- And then see how many times you got 20, 25mm, M10 bolts of the right pitch!
Daniel
|
|
|
JoelP
|
| posted on 22/11/07 at 09:35 PM |
|
|
i tend to just use a little 's' on the end of the word, to imply plural. Hence 20 bolts.
Works a treat for me
|
|
|
zilspeed
|
| posted on 22/11/07 at 09:48 PM |
|
|
Joel
How would that work with bricks though ?
Up here in Scotland, the plural of brick is brick, not bricks.
e.g "that job will need at least 3000 brick."
|
|
|
mark chandler
|
| posted on 22/11/07 at 10:13 PM |
|
|
For me its
off
or No.
or No:
No is a bit abstract so needs finishing
|
|
|
mangogrooveworkshop
|
| posted on 22/11/07 at 10:18 PM |
|
|
quote:
Originally posted by David Jenkins
It goes back to the days when craftsmen were often illiterate and couldn't/didn't work from drawings. Instead they used patterns made by
toolmakers or pattern-makers.
So the foreman would ask for "10 items off that pattern", or "20 off that model".
whats changed........they just speek noooo engliseesh...poliska
|
|
|
TimC
|
| posted on 22/11/07 at 10:20 PM |
|
|
quote:
Originally posted by balidey
Does he does this a lot or is it a 1No ?
Sorry, I meant one off
Shouldn't have explained the joke - you undermined its genius.
|
|
|
robertst
|
| posted on 22/11/07 at 10:56 PM |
|
|
i'm accustomed to the "off" thing too.. common sense i guess. it sounds much less logical or comprehensible to put the quantity
twice like 20 No M10
i'd stick to 20-off M10 or what i always do: 20x M10
never heard the "No" abbreviation
Tom
|
|
|
DaveFJ
|
| posted on 23/11/07 at 08:57 AM |
|
|
just to throw in another definition...
I was taught that Off refered to 'Off the production line'
Dave
"In Support of Help the Heroes" - Always
|
|
|
