Software Survival English
By Jo Ellen Perez, Methodica Software
This guide is intended to help those in the software industry who speak English
as a second language. Some of the words and grammar rules you will find here may
not appear in any dictionary. Some of the words are technical slang, and have been
in use only a short time.
You will find that much of the conversation in the Euro-Share archives is very informal
(and very enjoyable). Many of us speak English as a second language, so don't worry
if you don't speak the language perfectly. You are very welcome to join us!
However, when it comes time to do business, you will want to know the proper uses
for these words. You will need to develop new product names and write concise product
descriptions. You will need to correspond with users, software reviewers, and others.
Certain abbreviations and business slang are very acceptable in some English-speaking
countries, but you will find that it is best to avoid this. Words or phrases which
are common in one country may sound unintelligent or silly elsewhere. Your internet
audience is international, so you will need to use language which is more formal
and grammatically correct. There is a 'public' form of the English language which
commonly used, and will make sense to any English speaker, no matter what dialect
they use.
Here are the words most commonly confused:
Data : A collection of informational
items or fields.
To pluralize: This is a collection, so it is already plural. Do not add 's'.
Sentence: My datum and your datum together are data.
Note: The singular form of data is 'datum'. Datum refers to a single item or field
of information.
Database : A collection of data.
To pluralize: Add 's', but only if you refer to more than one database.
Sentences: My database is a collection of fields.
My three databases are three collections of fields.
File : to store information, or information
which is to be stored together.
To pluralize: Add 's'.
Sentences: My computer contains many files.
I will file that information.
Note: 'File' is both a noun and a verb, depending on how you use it.
Info : a collection of information.
To Pluralize: This is a collection, so it is already plural. Do not add "s'.
Sentence: This is a good piece of info.
This good info and that good info together are good info.
Note: Info is slang.
Information : a collection of data.
To pluralize: This is a collection, so it is already plural. Do not add 's'.
Sentences: This is a good piece of information.
This good information and that good information together are good information.
Note: 'info' is slang for information. See above.
Software : a program or group of programs.
To pluralize: This is a collection, so it is already plural. Do not add 's'.
Sentences: My software contains a program.
My software contains many programs.
Note: This is whole word. There is no short version. We don't call software 'softs'
or 'wares' for short.
Tech : slang, short for 'technical
or 'technician'.
To pluralize: Add 's' only if you refer to more than one technician.
Sentences: My software comes with a tech manual.
The computer shop has three techs.
Note: 'Technical' is an adjective. 'Technician' is a noun. The word 'techie', is
used to describe something or someone as being very technical.
Wares : goods, products, or merchandise.
To pluralize: This is a collection, so it is already plural. Do not add 's'.
Sentence: The shopkeeper sells his wares.
Note: Wares is not short for 'software' or 'hardware'. You will occasionally see
The word 'warez', which is a slang word meaning 'stolen software'. Don't confuse
them!
Please Note: These rules do not apply to proper names. You might name your product
or business in whatever way you wish. Plays on words or parts of words are very
common. In general, it is best to avoid using such terms in your product descriptions,
as it is very easy to make your meaning unclear to many readers.