[TUHS] On computerese

[Douglas McIlroy]

>> I've despaired over the term ever since it wormed its way into
>> computer folks' vocabulary. How does a "use case" differ from a "use"?
>
> Clarity as to whether one is employing a noun or a verb.  Both "use" and
> "case" can be either (he said, casing the joint for tomorrow's heist),
> but juxtaposing them thus unambiguously makes a noun phrase.

Usually context makes the nominal use of "use" clear : "many uses", "the
use",
"some uses". I'm  not persuaded that "use case" disambiguates any more
reliably.

How do supermarkets display their wares?
For some use cases they use cases.

Metacomment. While the "use" in "nominal use" above must be a noun,
"nominal" isn't compelled to have the intended meaning of "being a noun".
It's a game of whac-a-mot. Kill one ambiguity and spawn another.

Doug
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