0
Kangiten Posted 21 years ago
Vocabulary
Archival
"Secure data archival"
Is this complete nonsense? I translated a document and used this phrase all throughout. Then, I had a doubt and looked it up in the dictionary and it appears that "archival" can only be used as an adjective. Still, I found several occurrences on the Internet where "archival" is used as a noun (which was why I used the term in the first place). Sadly, I've already sent my document; I would just like to know if this way of putting it is totally wrong of it is in some way tolerated.
Thanks for any help.
Is this complete nonsense? I translated a document and used this phrase all throughout. Then, I had a doubt and looked it up in the dictionary and it appears that "archival" can only be used as an adjective. Still, I found several occurrences on the Internet where "archival" is used as a noun (which was why I used the term in the first place). Sadly, I've already sent my document; I would just like to know if this way of putting it is totally wrong of it is in some way tolerated.
Thanks for any help.
Top answer
Not complete nonsense, since as you said, others have used it; still, I think it is a matter of hypercorrection, writers thinking that the longer word is the most appropriate. Mistakes are made in all walks of life. I did find a noun, but I don't think it applies: ARCHIVAL: A photographic medium that is claimed by its manufacturer to offer superior properties of stability and image permanence.
- Not complete nonsense, since as you said, others have used it; still, I think it is a matter of hypercorrection, writers thinking that the longer word is the most appropriate.
- Mistakes are made in all walks of life.
- I did find a noun, but I don't think it applies: ARCHIVAL: A photographic medium that is claimed by its manufacturer to offer superior properties of stability and image permanence.
- eg: it’s acid-free paper that isn’t supposed to turn yellow and brittle, it’s a print process that’s supposed to retain vivid colours for a long time, etc .
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
6 Answers
0
Not complete nonsense, since as you said, others have used it; still, I think it is a matter of hypercorrection, writers thinking that the longer word is the most appropriate. Mistakes are made in all walks of life.
I did find a noun, but I don't think it applies:
ARCHIVAL: A photographic medium that is claimed by its manufacturer to offer superior properties of stab
I did find a noun, but I don't think it applies:
ARCHIVAL: A photographic medium that is claimed by its manufacturer to offer superior properties of stab
00
In fact, I genuinely can't explain why I thought "archival" was correct in that context. Guess I was just influenced because I read it and thought it'd been used properly. But in seems to be used, even on some UK sites so I'm puzzled. I should've checked it first anyway.
Thanks for the input
Thanks for the input
00
It seems to be used quite often in conjunction with retrieval, e.g. "secure data archival and retrieval".
Somehow, and disconcertingly, it manages to sound "correct" in that context.
MrP
Somehow, and disconcertingly, it manages to sound "correct" in that context.
MrP
00
MrP,
Do you say it sounds correct because of the euphony (produced by the rhyme) or for another reason?
Do you say it sounds correct because of the euphony (produced by the rhyme) or for another reason?
00
Hello Kangiten
The euphony helps; but it also "sounds correct" because -val is a valid suffix for a noun (cf. removal, approval).
That said, I can't find it in a dictionary as a noun; though it's quite possible that it appears as such somewhere in the OED (well, probably just before "archive", rather than "somewhere").
MrP
The euphony helps; but it also "sounds correct" because -val is a valid suffix for a noun (cf. removal, approval).
That said, I can't find it in a dictionary as a noun; though it's quite possible that it appears as such somewhere in the OED (well, probably just before "archive", rather than "somewhere").
MrP
00
Related Questions