Fit vs place vs mount vs insert

Question

We are translating some assembly cards to english , and we are very confused about how and when to use which word.

For example ,
step1; insert lock washer and washer on to the bolt
step2; fit the bolt on the upper carriage
step3; tighten the bolts with the help of wrench.

also,
we are confused how to use mounting and placing , whats the difference ?

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

place is completely general. It's the same as "put", but more formal. Place the dish on the table. Place the rug under the chair. Place the lamp near the sofa.

insert is a more specific kind of place. It used when one part goes into another and ends up inside. Insert X into Y ~ Put/Push X inside of Y. Inserting also implies that the two parts fit together fairly closely and one part is pushed into the other part. You don't "insert" cereal into a bowl, for example. But you can insert an electric plug into an electric outlet. In assembly work, you'll often see "Insert Tab A into Slot B". You insert tabs into slots. A box of pasta may close like that, with a tab in a slot.

mount is a more specific kind of place. You usually mount one thing on top of another. Mount X on/onto Y ~ Put X on top of Y (and connect X and Y). Mounting also implies connecting the top part onto the bottom part. In the old days they used to mount little statue-like decorations on the hoods on cars.

fit usually means placing by connecting. When two parts naturally fit together, you can use the verb "fit". Personally, I don't think "fit" is a very useful verb in instructions.

CJ

Anonymous · Answer

Funny thing is that they gave us a british motor engine assy. book. And they are using "fit" in almost everything..

one question related to mount ;

you said mount one thing "on top of" another.

What if we are mounting it on the sides ?

And if a bolt goes into a socket , then i can use "fit" right ?

CalifJim · Answer

Anonymousone question related to mount ;you said mount one thing "on top of" another.What if we are mounting it on the sides ?

That's OK. The meaning of mount can be extended to include mounting X on the side of Y. People use "mount" like that quite often (to mount a thermostat on a wall). I think I've even heard of mounting X on the bottom of Y. In any case X is the smaller part and it gets attached to the larger part Y.

AnonymousAnd if a bolt goes into a socket , then i can use "fit" right ?

That sounds reasonable to me.

CJ

Anonymous · Answer

Thanks CJ. My mind is much more clear now.

Anonymous · Answer

AnonymousWe are translating some assembly cards to English , and we are very confused about how and when to use which word.

For a simple instruction with a few steps, this is OK. But note the highlights.

For example ,
1) Insert lock washer and washer on to the bolt

Insert is the wrong choice of word in this context. When we are talking about lock washer, tension ring, lock nut , the receiving body of these parts is either a hex bolt or a threaded stud which has one end welded on a chasis. So, mechanically speaking, we can deliver the instruction several ways. We can either say " place the lock washer ..... over the bold". I used to write training manuals, so from a professional persepctive, I expect the technician to understand these parts, to work properly, must be INSTALLED in the correct order and the smae fashion evch time. So for question #1
the proper instruction is: Install the lock washer, tension ring and the lock nut on the bolt.....( There is a specified technique to tighten the nut)

2) Fit the bolt on the upper carriage

This is appparently the other scenario in which all these parts are placed onto a bold which will be inseted into a threaded body. So # 2 should read: " Install the bold (with lock washer and tension ring ( no bolt)) on teh carriage.

3) Tighten the bolts with a the help of wrench. With a torque wrench if the installation is precision required.

Anonymouswe are confused how to use mounting and placing , whats the difference ?

Place, install, and assemble are what come to mind, and I did it for a living for 25 years.. Mounting- is not a common word used in mechanical assembly work,

Fit vs place vs mount vs insert

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