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Usenet Posted 21 years ago
Usage
Underway, under way, under weigh
I just got this in a circular:
"...concerned customers have asked for an update to the Progress report. This is already underway and the draft version is currently awaiting approval and comment from the Project Management Group before being published."
I'm sure it shouldn't be "underway"; it should at least be "under way", but should it not more properly be "under weigh", as in "Anchors Aweigh" and so forth?
My understanding is that the nautical command "Anchors away!" means "Drop the anchors (and bring everything to a halt)" whereas "Weigh anchor!" means "Raise the anchor (and get things moving)". This implies to me that an update in progress is "under weigh".
What do we think?
"...concerned customers have asked for an update to the Progress report. This is already underway and the draft version is currently awaiting approval and comment from the Project Management Group before being published."
I'm sure it shouldn't be "underway"; it should at least be "under way", but should it not more properly be "under weigh", as in "Anchors Aweigh" and so forth?
My understanding is that the nautical command "Anchors away!" means "Drop the anchors (and bring everything to a halt)" whereas "Weigh anchor!" means "Raise the anchor (and get things moving)". This implies to me that an update in progress is "under weigh".
What do we think?
Top answer
concerned customers have asked for an update to the Progress report. This is ... means "Raise the anchor (and get things moving)".
- concerned customers have asked for an update to the Progress report.
- This is ...
- means "Raise the anchor (and get things moving)".
- [/nq] No.
- "way" is a sailing term meaning "movement through the water".
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13 Answers
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Michael Rolfe had it:
[nq:1]I just got this in a circular: "...concerned customers have asked for an update to the Progress report. This is ... means "Raise the anchor (and get things moving)". This implies to me that an update in progress is "under weigh".[/nq]
No. "way" is a sailing term meaning "movement through the water". A ship which is "under way" is moving. You can't steer a boat w
[nq:1]I just got this in a circular: "...concerned customers have asked for an update to the Progress report. This is ... means "Raise the anchor (and get things moving)". This implies to me that an update in progress is "under weigh".[/nq]
No. "way" is a sailing term meaning "movement through the water". A ship which is "under way" is moving. You can't steer a boat w
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Michael Rolfe:
[nq:1]I just got this in a circular: "...concerned customers have asked for an update to the Progress report. This is ... the Project Management Group before being published." I'm sure it shouldn't be "underway"; it should at least be "under way",[/nq]
Nope. Two-word expressions become compound words all the time, and this one is well established, as these Google counts show
[nq:1]I just got this in a circular: "...concerned customers have asked for an update to the Progress report. This is ... the Project Management Group before being published." I'm sure it shouldn't be "underway"; it should at least be "under way",[/nq]
Nope. Two-word expressions become compound words all the time, and this one is well established, as these Google counts show
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[nq:1]No. "way" is a sailing term meaning "movement through the water".[/nq]
Are you sure about this? Are you perhaps thinking of "making way"?
[nq:1]A ship which is "under way" is moving.[/nq]
Not at all. A vessel "underway" is one that is not anchored, moored, or secured to a physical structure. There is no need that the vessel actually be moving, either over the ground or through th
Are you sure about this? Are you perhaps thinking of "making way"?
[nq:1]A ship which is "under way" is moving.[/nq]
Not at all. A vessel "underway" is one that is not anchored, moored, or secured to a physical structure. There is no need that the vessel actually be moving, either over the ground or through th
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Really moving with respect to the water
was called 'having steerage way'.
This meant having sufficient speed
for the rudder to do something useful.
The usage survives for planes,
Jan
was called 'having steerage way'.
This meant having sufficient speed
for the rudder to do something useful.
The usage survives for planes,
Jan
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[nq:2]Are you sure about this? Are you perhaps thinking of ... a vessel that is "underway" is not necessarily "making way."[/nq]
[nq:1]Really moving with respect to the water was called 'having steerage way'.[/nq]
It is also called "making way." However this is not to be confused with "underway," which is defined as above.
[nq:1]This meant having sufficient speed for the rudder to do s
[nq:1]Really moving with respect to the water was called 'having steerage way'.[/nq]
It is also called "making way." However this is not to be confused with "underway," which is defined as above.
[nq:1]This meant having sufficient speed for the rudder to do s
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This seems to be simply a matter of slipshod definition.
Would you, for example, say that a vessel contained within a dry dock but unsecured, is "underway"? I suspect those responsible for the definition you cite would answer "Er ... no."
Matti
Would you, for example, say that a vessel contained within a dry dock but unsecured, is "underway"? I suspect those responsible for the definition you cite would answer "Er ... no."
Matti
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[nq:2]... A vessel "underway" is one that is not anchored, moored, or secured to a physical structure ...[/nq]
[nq:1]This seems to be simply a matter of slipshod definition.[/nq]
In nautical parlance there is usually very little room for slipshod definitions. However things may be changing there as in other usage domains.
[nq:1]Would you, for example, say that a vessel contained within
[nq:1]This seems to be simply a matter of slipshod definition.[/nq]
In nautical parlance there is usually very little room for slipshod definitions. However things may be changing there as in other usage domains.
[nq:1]Would you, for example, say that a vessel contained within
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Well, I think you've agreed with me, then. I wasn't arguing that the circumstance would be "normal", but it certainly fits the slipshod definition.
I'd argue that the definers implicitly assumed that a vessel which is "under way" would feel the water moving past its keel.
Matti
I'd argue that the definers implicitly assumed that a vessel which is "under way" would feel the water moving past its keel.
Matti
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[nq:1]I'd argue that the definers implicitly assumed that a vessel which is "under way" would feel the water moving past its keel.[/nq]
It would not surprise me to learn that quite a few individuals actively engaged in things nautical are themselves not sure of the precise definition, and it certainly does sound as though movement must necessarily be involved.
The nautical didact would say
It would not surprise me to learn that quite a few individuals actively engaged in things nautical are themselves not sure of the precise definition, and it certainly does sound as though movement must necessarily be involved.
The nautical didact would say
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[nq:2]A ship which is "under way" is moving.[/nq]
[nq:1]Not at all. A vessel "underway" is one that is not anchored, moored, or secured to a physical structure. There ... over the ground or through the water. In other words, a vessel that is "underway" is not necessarily "making way."[/nq]
Here's what Chapman's Piloting Seamanship and Small Boat Handling has to say:
"When a boat moves
[nq:1]Not at all. A vessel "underway" is one that is not anchored, moored, or secured to a physical structure. There ... over the ground or through the water. In other words, a vessel that is "underway" is not necessarily "making way."[/nq]
Here's what Chapman's Piloting Seamanship and Small Boat Handling has to say:
"When a boat moves
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