Wow, I’m still in shock that we haven’t done this already. It should be in the Top Three Most Wanted of our Translators’ FBI. But we here at TFBI always get our man, and when scope foolishly stuck its head out on Sunday, well...
Mr. Scope takes me back to my early days as a rookie ’reader. Back then I knew less than I know now, which is sort of like saying you know more about being smacked in the face after you’ve been punched a few times. The idea is firmly there, but the loose brain cells prevent you from fully cementing the idea before the next blow comes. Or something.
Anyway, scope is a bad case of over-use. Despite Polish employing a great deal more specific words to describe slight variations of one thing or concept (as opposed to English which will happily recycle one word to mean five different things), some Polish words suddenly leap out at you with a gun, screaming and ranting about being versatile and having a half-cousin in London or Dublin. It is my suspicion that scope is one such lunatic. Let’s crack the case files on this one:
Prior convictions
1a) The Buyer agrees to supply items within the scope of the agreement.
2a) …solely and only in the scope necessary for work performance.
3a) The new drug is recommended for treatment in the scope of motor system disorders.
1a) The Buyer agrees to supply items within the scope of the agreement.
2a) …solely and only in the scope necessary for work performance.
3a) The new drug is recommended for treatment in the scope of motor system disorders.
What the judge said
1b) The Buyer agrees to supply items within the terms of the agreement.
2b) …solely and only to the extent necessary for work performance.
3b) The new drug is recommended for treatment of motor system disorders.
1b) The Buyer agrees to supply items within the terms of the agreement.
2b) …solely and only to the extent necessary for work performance.
3b) The new drug is recommended for treatment of motor system disorders.
Throw the book at it!
1) (mass noun) the extent of the area or subject matter that something deals with or to which it is relevant.
2) (n) extent of mental ability, outlook, etc¹
3) (n) range or opportunity (e.g. That’s beyond the scope of our research)¹
4) (n) device looked at or through (telescope).
5) instrument for observing or showing (oscilloscope).
2) (n) extent of mental ability, outlook, etc¹
3) (n) range or opportunity (e.g. That’s beyond the scope of our research)¹
4) (n) device looked at or through (telescope).
5) instrument for observing or showing (oscilloscope).
The Verdict
As will be evident by now, Evidence 1a, b and c is not incorrect usage. Technically. This, ladies and germs, is a technicality. Because although Mr. Scope appears to be innocent – he is in fact being grossly over used!! Yes, that’s right, with TWO exclaims!
As will be evident by now, Evidence 1a, b and c is not incorrect usage. Technically. This, ladies and germs, is a technicality. Because although Mr. Scope appears to be innocent – he is in fact being grossly over used!! Yes, that’s right, with TWO exclaims!
Scope seems to be one of those rare versatile words in Polish, and so when the bullets start flying he gets sprayed across every paragraph in sight. Now in natural English, it’s just not used to the same extent – at all. Good synonyms exist that are also valid in the legal and business contexts which are scope’s usual MO. The fix, then, is to use a synonym – usually range or extent (extent of/extent to which etc) – or, when not in business or other hyper-formal speak, just cut it all down to of (example 3 above).
Now you’re aware of this recidivistic recalcitrant, I want you to get out there and get him! Dismissed.
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