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ENGINEERING GRAMMER FOR NOTES 3

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jcmech

jcmech

Mechanical
Dec 27, 2006
8
A CO-WORKER AND I ARE ARGUING OVER PROPER GRAMMER AS IT APPLIES TO DRAWING NOTES. AS FICKLE AS THIS MAY SOUND, I HATE BEING TOLD THAT I AM WRONG WITHOUT GOOD PREMISE. HE SAYS THAT ANY SENTENCE MUST END IN A PERIOD. MY PERSONAL FEELING IS THAT IF THE NOTE IS LONGER THAN ONE SENTENCE PERIODS SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THAS PARTICULAR NOTE ONLY.
ANY DIRECTION IN THIS MATTER WOULD HELP TREMENDOUSLY.
 
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Consistency is what makes a good dwg. Either have periods on all notes or none at all.
Remember, the notes are for the people that are manufacturing your part. Good grammar and spelling will make their job that much easier and have less mistakes.
IMO, use good grammar, periods, etc, and spell check.

Chris
SolidWorks/PDMWorks 08 2.0
AutoCAD 06
ctopher's home (updated 10-07-07)
ctopher's blog
 
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I doubt this is covered in any recognised standard, and this question might be more suitable for forum1010

However, IMO, whether the notes are engineering related or not is irrelevant. You should abide by the "rules" of whichever language you are using.

... and while I'm replying:-

1) PLEASE REFRAIN FROM SHOUTING! [smile]

2) There is no 'e' in the word grammar.

3) The use of periods, commas, etc, is not grammar; it is punctuation.

As Chris mentioned, you should be consistent. If you are not going to use a period, then why bother with any punctuation?

[cheers]
 
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I'm not sure which standard covers this, but the Global Drawing Requirements Manual for departments of defense and commerce (based on DOD-D-1000/DOD-STD-100) states "General notes are punctuated according to the rules of English Grammar".

Believe it if you need it or leave it if you dare. - [small]Robert Hunter[/small]
 
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ewh, wow, that pretty much settles it.

I've considered not using periods for list type notes like:

2. MATERIAL: 316 SST

or

2. MATERIAL: 316 SST.

But I've since settled on using full punctuation, even for these. It's just clearer. The only time I don't use a period is for notes with actual formatted lists, but that is rare, and I normally try to avoid documenting a spec in that manner anyway.

Matt Lorono
CAD Engineer/ECN Analyst
Silicon Valley, CA
Lorono's SolidWorks Resources
Co-moderator of Solidworks Yahoo! Group
and Mechnical.Engineering Yahoo! Group
 
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fcsuper,

While your notation for material call out is straight and to the point I would typically punctuate it anyway. English dictates that even one word is a sentence. No?


Wes C.
------------------------------
No trees were killed in the sending of this message, but a large number of electrons were terribly inconvenienced.
 
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In accordance to ASME Y14.100-2000 "Engineering Drawing Practices", Para 4.26.6, Drawing Notes - Contents ... "Drawing notes shall be concise, grammatically correct statements."

From what I am able to find, actual punctuation guidelines are not addressed in this standard. If somebody finds something please post.

Otherwise my thoughts on this subject are to be logical; if the statement is clear and concise, it is most likely a sentence. If this is so, then use a period. If not,then don't punctuate and consider revising if it is not concise enough or does it even belong.

The material callout, as used in an earlier example is not a sentence nor is it a statement. Therefore, does it even belong in a general note section?
 
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Xplicator:
Regarding Matt's brief material sample:
Does it not tell you what to make the part out of, period or not?
If the drawing format I have to work with does not have a material box in the title block area, I would make a general note just like that (although probably calling out the material spec. too).
 
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Don't get me wrong I wasn't picking on him so much as I was trying to make the bigger point to the overall scenario that it is not a concise statement, so revising it to say something like - "Component material is ______." - is in order to use a period.

Now, if you choose to list it as shown in the example, thats fine but it would not get a period at the end since it does not constitute a statement.

In regards to whether it belongs there or not is up to you, I don't know your situation or practices. However, it is always a good question to ask. If the answer is yes, but it needs revising, then do so. If not and it belongs in the Title Block or BOM, than you may have proactivly squelched a potential issue.

Remember, I am somewhat a purist so please do not be offended, it's just my opinion.
 
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Matt's sample was just a sample.
Although some companies do not have proper title blocks and do not have an area for material, a material note would be fine. Matt's sample for a material note will work, but I also would add a material spec per CheckerRon's suggestion.

I have seen companies list notes on drawings without note numbering and without periods. Very difficult to differentiate between notes.
Consistency should be #1 on a drawing. Use all periods or all none.

Chris
SolidWorks/PDMWorks 08 2.0
AutoCAD 06
ctopher's home (updated 10-07-07)
ctopher's blog
 
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I just looked at our standard notes and most are formed as complete sentances so use full stops/periods.

For instance for finishes rather than saying

FINISH: ANODIZE IAW MIL... (no period0

They say.

ANODIZE PART PER MIL... (with period) [Arguably to be a requirement rather than an instruction it should probably say PART TO BE ANODOZED PER MIL... but how far do you take it!]

The material callout is an exception and just has MATERIAL: although as we have to type in the material (if it wont fit in the title box) then I suppose we can add a . if we wish! I wouldn't reject a drawing based on this example. However, I generally require correct grammar/punctionation, even if I don't always manage it in my posts;-).



KENAT, probably the least qualified checker you'll ever meet...
 
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Kenat: I know that your drawing notes have periods, and are for the most part full sentences with subject and predicate since yours truly wrote them.
Curious, if a period is a "full stop" the the Brits, is a comma a half stop?
 
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a period is a full stop
a comma is a comma
a semi colon is a semi colon
and a colon is a colon

Of course parenthesis may at times be brackets, or maybe that's just the poor standard of my Enlish.

I only got a C so I'm bowing out.

KENAT, probably the least qualified checker you'll ever meet...
 
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To me, until I was educated on this side of the pond, they were all brackets.

They came in multiple flavours, square[], curly {} and regular().

This time I am bowing out.

KENAT, probably the least qualified checker you'll ever meet...
 
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