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The Abbreviation: "ca."
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Apple Pro Underwear
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Dec 12, 2009, 10:58 PM
 
Someone wrote me a email saying:

"Looking for someone who can design ca. 25 static comps"


What the hell does that mean? Google is giving me nothing. Please help.
     
CharlesS
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Dec 12, 2009, 11:03 PM
 
Circa.

This person wants around 25 static comps (whatever that is). Presumably, if you designed him/her 24 or 26 static comps, you'd be all right.

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Apple Pro Underwear  (op)
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Dec 12, 2009, 11:10 PM
 
That's insane. What the hell does he need 25 design for?

thanks, CharlesS
     
Railroader
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Dec 12, 2009, 11:23 PM
 
What's a "comp"?
     
Doofy
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Dec 12, 2009, 11:42 PM
 
And why's it static?
Been inclined to wander... off the beaten track.
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iMOTOR
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Dec 12, 2009, 11:49 PM
 
I’ve never heard someone use it that way. Usually the word is used in history books, for example; This is a photo of Downtown San Diego ca. 1914.


Originally Posted by Railroader View Post
What's a "comp"?

Comprehensive. Some people call it a full mock-up.
     
rjenkinson
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Dec 13, 2009, 12:21 AM
 
Originally Posted by Apple Pro Underwear View Post
"Looking for someone who can design ca. 25 static comps"
Shouldn't it be approx.?
     
iMOTOR
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Dec 13, 2009, 12:27 AM
 
Yes.
     
CharlesS
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Dec 13, 2009, 01:22 AM
 
Originally Posted by iMOTOR View Post
I’ve never heard someone use it that way. Usually the word is used in history books, for example; This is a photo of Downtown San Diego ca. 1914.
Usually. However, I can't think of anything else it could mean in that context.

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moonmonkey
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Dec 13, 2009, 02:56 AM
 
Originally Posted by iMOTOR View Post
I’ve never heard someone use it that way. Usually the word is used in history books, for example; This is a photo of Downtown San Diego ca. 1914.





Comprehensive. Some people call it a full mock-up.
I always thought it was composition?
     
tooki
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Dec 13, 2009, 05:06 AM
 
I use "ca." and "circa" with some regularity. It's one of the most common Latin terms we use in English, after "e.g." and "i.e." (exempli gratia "example given" and id est "that is").

Oh yeah, "ca." is in the Mac OS X dictionary, so if you just type it into Spotlight, it comes right up.
     
slugslugslug
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Dec 13, 2009, 10:27 AM
 
Yeah, it means “about”, so people often use it when talking approximate dates, but it’s okay to use in other contexts too.
     
Thorzdad
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Dec 13, 2009, 11:57 AM
 
In my experience, a "static comp" would mean a non-functional mockup of a website design. Basically a big Photoshop image. 25 or so for a single site design is insane. I suspect the requester (and user of "ca") is a marketing dept droid. Sounds like one, anyway. The type who uses "impact" instead of both "affect" and "effect".
     
Eriamjh
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Dec 13, 2009, 05:48 PM
 
I always thought that circa was used in context with time: circa 25 years ago or circa 200 BC.

I didn't think was was applicable for a quantity. Who the hell says I need "circa 25 pieces"?

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Oisín
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Dec 13, 2009, 07:37 PM
 
For the record, if the writer is a non-native speaker, that could easily explain it. In all the Scandinavian languages, for example, cirka (Danish, Swedish) or sirka (Norwegian) is the common, everyday word for ‘about/approximately’. Using it in non-temporal contexts in English does sound awkward, I agree.
     
Eriamjh
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Dec 13, 2009, 11:21 PM
 
Non-english speaker? That 'splains it.

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ort888
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Dec 13, 2009, 11:48 PM
 
Yeah, but let's get back to the 25 thing... what the hell?

25 unique designs for one site? Can that be right? What the hell?

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- - e r i k - -
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Dec 14, 2009, 01:58 AM
 
Originally Posted by Oisín View Post
For the record, if the writer is a non-native speaker, that could easily explain it. In all the Scandinavian languages, for example, cirka (Danish, Swedish) or sirka (Norwegian) is the common, everyday word for ‘about/approximately’. Using it in non-temporal contexts in English does sound awkward, I agree.
What? Since when did we stop writing it like cirka? I've never seen it spelt 'sirka'. But yes, circa is a synonym of approximately (even in English).

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Railroader
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Dec 14, 2009, 07:50 AM
 
OS X's Dictionary says:

Originally Posted by OS X's Dictionary
circa |ˈsərkə|
preposition
(often preceding a date) approximately : built circa 1935.
ORIGIN mid 19th cent.: Latin.
I've never seen it used outside of the date context. Personally, I like the "~" symbol (even if I am not using it correctly, I still like it).
     
Oisín
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Dec 14, 2009, 04:41 PM
 
Originally Posted by - - e r i k - - View Post
What? Since when did we stop writing it like cirka? I've never seen it spelt 'sirka'. But yes, circa is a synonym of approximately (even in English).
Whoops. My instinct to let Norwegian spelling automatically win over everything else made me a bit trigger-happy there. Apparently, both are possible.
     
- - e r i k - -
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Dec 14, 2009, 08:59 PM
 
Not every one of the 'Norwegifications' of the later reforms seems to have stuck.

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