Drafting

Question

Drafting means 'sketching/drawing' or 'writing'?

Avangi · Accepted Answer

It means different things to different people.
To an engineer, the draftsman is the guy who takes the engineer's messy sketches and and recreates them according to standard specifications. If the subject is mechanical, he would make the drawing to exact scale. If it's electrical (for instance) he would use the appropriate type of diagram for this particular application.

Generally, "to draft" means to draw, or to pull.
A draft horse draws the plow. You pull the drawers out of your dresser.

AH020387 · Answer

What does 'drafting a letter' mean?

Avangi · Answer

Sorry, I got interrupted. (My wife brought me an eggnog with brandy for Christmas.)

We use the expression "This is only a rough draft." We can "sketch out" a plan.
In this sense, a draft/sketch is a preliminary proposal. It may even be for a piece of legislation.
A group of people may sit around a table and "draw up" a plan. Perhaps nothing is even written down.

On the other hand, some artists' sketches are considered their "finished work."

AH020387What does 'drafting a letter' mean?

In my opinion, "to draft a letter" in modern times would be "to make a rough draft,"
perhaps for others to examine before the final product is sent off.

I suspect that in times past,
"to draft a letter" would mean to some people simply to write the finished product directly.

Okay, then I will draft him a letter explaining what we've discussed here.
This could be the same as, "I will write him a letter." (I will send him a letter.)

These days, "Please write/send me a letter telling me what you decide," both mean the same thing.
We would not say, "Please draft me a letter," or use the expression casually, except in the sense of "a rough draft."

AH020387 · Answer

Thanks and merry christmas

Drafting

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