Which form is the correct one ?

Question

Let's say you want to label a specific group of people. Which for would you use:Subject Matter Experts for NetworksorNetworks Subject Matter Experts ?Thank you

Usenet · Accepted Answer

[nq:1]Let's say you want to label a specific group of people. Which for would you use: Subject Matter Experts for Networks or Networks Subject Matter Experts ?[/nq]
How 'bout Network(ing) Expert(s)? "Subject Matter", under normal circumstances, could be considered understood. What compells you to include it in the job title?

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]Let's say you want to label a specific group of people. Which for would you use: Subject Matter Experts for Networks or Networks Subject Matter Experts ?[/nq]
This sounds more like a question about your company's jargon than about real language.
In your environment, are there "subject matter experts" in areas other than "networks?" For instance, are there people referred to as "Subject Matter Experts for Paperwork" or "Subject Matter Experts for Sewage," for instance? If so, they probably deserve their own "for Networks" suffix to their feeble title. Otherwise, they might better be referred to as "Network Subject Matter Experts" I suppose. (Leave the "s" off "Networks" unless it has some corporate jargon relevance.)

What does a network matter subject expert do, by the way?

Regards,
Ian.

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]Let's say you want to label a specific group of people. Which for would you use: Subject Matter Experts for Networks or Networks Subject Matter Experts ?[/nq]
Others have questioned why you would want to say this, and I agree that it seems a bit strange. Nevertheless, if you must use this formulation, here's how I recommend you do it:
Networks' subject-matter experts.
Note (1) the apostrophe that makes "networks'" into a plural possessive and (2) the hyphen that makes "subject-matter" into a single attributive. You need both. I don't see any reason to capitalize, so I didn't. If you have a reason for capitalizing, then go ahead.

Liebs

Usenet · Answer

[nq:2]Let's say you want to label a specific group of ... Matter Experts for Networks or Networks Subject Matter Experts ?[/nq]
[nq:1]This sounds more like a question about your company's jargon than about real language. In your environment, are there "subject ... off "Networks" unless it has some corporate jargon relevance.) What does a network matter subject expert do, by the way?[/nq]
It looks like he might talk about the subject a lot. Expertly.
Skitt (in Hayward, California)
www.geocities.com/opus731/

Usenet · Answer

[nq:2]What does a network matter subject expert do, by the way?[/nq]
[nq:1]It looks like he might talk about the subject a lot. Expertly.[/nq]
Even if it doesn't matter?

Ian.

Usenet · Answer

OK I understand that
"Network subject matter experts" is the correct form. My idea is to be more specific because a SME is SME by his outstanding skills in for instance networking (IT)
This is why I would like to use the word "network". I hope that now it is correct.
Thank you

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]OK I understand that "Network subject matter experts" is the correct form.[/nq]
No, it isn't.
[nq:1]My idea is to be more specific because a SME is SME by his outstanding skills in for instance networking (IT) This is why I would like to use the word "network". I hope that now it is correct.[/nq]
No, it isn't.
What you are talking about is a "subject-matter (don't forget that hyphen) expert in networking." (I didn't understand that the first time I replied.) And that's the way you should write it.
[nq:1]Thank you[/nq]
You're welcome. But please try to pay better attention.

Liebs

Usenet · Answer

I still can not understand this
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&q=%22subject-matter+expert+in+networking%22&btnG=Search

vs
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&q=%22network+subject+matter+expert%22&btnG=Search

At least the statistics say that it would be correct to say "subject matter expert in".
http://www.google.com/search?q=%22subject+matter+expert+in%22&hl=en&lr=&start=10&sa=N
Thank you

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]OK I understand that "Network subject matter experts" is the correct form.[/nq]
I agree there should be a hypen btween subject and matter, where the two words are used as adjective modifying experts. (as opposed to "experts in subject matter" where matter is just a noun and subject is probably an adjective modifying it.
Other than that, I think as written above, Network is an adjective that also modifies experts.
I'm not really happy with Networks', because the networks do not really possess experts. Not even as much as the army possesses soldiers, and even though the army pretty much does possess soldiers, we would still say "Army soldiers" and less often "the army's soldiers".
But the networks don't possess experts. Rather, there exist experts in networking. They are network experts. In your case, they may be experts in the subject matter of networks. When that gets rearranged, the correct form would be network subject-matter experts. (Nouns used as adjectives are usually put in the singular, and an ending like -ing would usually be removed.
(the n in network would or could be capitalized if the phrase was some sort of title, even the title of chapter.)
All of this assumes you are not talking about something like the CBS TV network's experts on politics. In that case the network does have, enough to use the possessive, so-called experts on their list of employees or contractors. But you mentioned IT, and it's pretty clear to me you are talking about experts in networking, network experts.
Just remember:
What is X? X is an unknown.
And what is a spurt? It's a drip under pressure.
So what is an Xpurt? An unknown drip under pressure.
[nq:1]My idea is to be more specific because a SME is SME by his outstanding skills in for instance networking (IT)[/nq]
FTR, networking is just part of information technology. Generally a single word or phrase in parentheses is equivalent to the whatever precedes it, not something greater. If you are trying to make sure readers know you mean networking within IT and not some other kind, you could say, "for instance, IT networking."
[nq:2]Others have questioned why you would want to say this, ... have a reason for capitalizing, then go ahead. Liebs[/nq]
s/ meirman

If you are emailing me please
say if you are posting the same response.
Born west of Pittsburgh Pa. 10 years
Indianapolis, 7 years
Chicago, 6 years
Brooklyn NY 12 years
now in Baltimore 22 years

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]I still can not understand this[/nq]
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&q=%22subject-matter+expert+in+net working%22&btnG=Search
That one says
Find Jobs-Job Details
... Hubs, WAN, LAN, VPNs, etc...). Advise and Assist other resources and groups
within IT by being a subject matter expert in
Networking Technologies. ...
[nq:1]vs[/nq]
That has more listings, such as:
SAIC: Job Opportunities: Satellite & Communications Subject Matter ...
... The Satellite and Network Subject Matter Expert (SME) shall be required to
provide concept formulation regarding satellite and terrestrial ...
Find Jobs-Job Details
... 6) Act as IP South network subject matter expert to the rest of the company.
Keep current on underlying technology as well as new vendor specific ...
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&q=%22network+subject+matter+exper t%22&btnG=Search
[nq:1]At least the statistics say that it would be correct to say "subject matter expert in".[/nq]
http://www.google.com/search?q=%22subject+matter+expert+in%22&hl=en&lr=& start=10&sa=N
Sure. In all of these, "subject matter expert" is a way of saying "expert in some subject." They're looking to hire experts not in everything, which would be impossible, but in certain subjects.

The role of the word "network" varies, but it seems to define the general area. In the first, "network technologies." In the second, "Satellite and Network" appears to describe the general area of responsibility. In the third, "IP South network" it appears to be what "IP South" is the name of it's a network.
Your original question was:

Whether you use one of the other form doesn't matter a great deal; it would depend on space available (tiny job ads tend to be compact) and local custom. It's like "a barn for cows" or "a cow barn." They're both OK.
But you use the word "Networks" in your example, and that is confusing. Normally in English we don't build a plural into a construction like that. (It's not "a cows barn.")
Automatic milking machines for barns
Barn automatic milking machines
The second form is a bit hard to read, being too concentrated, and would tend to be avoided. But it's not totally illegal.

Best wishes Donna Richoux

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