Take Our W-O-R-D for It

This column interprets a variety of words, phrases, and acronyms encountered in technical communication. Learn and laugh as your peers provide real world and sometimes cheeky definitions in each issue.

This issue's definitions are provided courtesy of your fellow Willamette Valley Chapter members.

Scalable:

A range attribute of truth and fiction
— John Benson

Fish whose scales come off easily when caught (similar molting by reptiles); capable of being climbed (e.g. a scalable mountain)
— John Corbett

Whether the fish you just caught should be thrown back or kept to scale and clean
— Kevin Cox

Metrics:

Metaphysical Engineering Trial Control System
— John Benson

A plot by the Europeans to force us to give up English measurements
— John Corbett

SME:

Subject Matter Experts, or Small Migratory Engineers
— Cyndi Butler

Solarization Myth Expediter
— John Benson

Systeme Monetaire Europeen (French: European monetary system)
— John Corbett

Some Manic Engineer
— Kevin Cox

GUI:

Graphical User Interface
— Cyndi Butler

Gullible Ufology Intern
— John Benson

Bubblegum left on a sidewalk on a hot August afternoon
— John Corbett

What you say about cake batter—That's really gui!”
— Kevin Cox

Jump:

Journal of Ufological Myth Professionals
— John Benson

What you need to do when you encounter GUI
— John Corbett

Gutter:

Graduate Ufologist Terms and Tangibles Engineering Report
— John Benson

The SME convinced the GUI that his contribution to the JUMP, “Scalables in the Metrics,” would be republished in the GUTTER.”
— John Benson

Where you land after the jump
— John Corbett

The sloped strip of concrete between the street and sidewalk where water flows
— Kevin Cox

Additional Resources

The following are just a few among many web sites that can help you quickly identify this issue's actual definitions on your own:

whatis.techtarget.com/

hokum.freehomepage.com/Content/Glossary/Glossary_Technical.html

www.wright.edu/~martha.sammons/Links/TECHWRIT.HTM