coefficient of X
Hackish speech makes heavy use of pseudo-mathematical metaphors. Four
particularly important ones involve the terms "coefficient", "factor", "index",
and "quotient". They are often loosely applied to things you cannot really be
quantitative, but there are subtle distinctions among them that convey
information about the way the speaker mentally models whatever he or she is
describing.
"Foo factor" and "foo quotient" tend to describe something for which the issue
is one of presence or absence. The canonical example is fudge factor. It's not
important how much you're fudging; the term simply acknowledges that some
fudging is needed. You might talk of liking a movie for its silliness factor.
Quotient tends to imply that the property is a ratio of two opposing factors: "I
would have won except for my luck quotient." This could also be "I would have
won except for the luck factor", but using *quotient* emphasises that it was bad
luck overpowering good luck (or someone else's good luck overpowering your own).
"Foo index" and "coefficient of foo" both tend to imply that foo is, if not
strictly measurable, at least something that can be larger or smaller. Thus, you
might refer to a paper or person as having a "high bogosity index", whereas you
would be less likely to speak of a "high bogosity factor". "Foo index" suggests
that foo is a condensation of many quantities, as in the mundane cost-of-living
index; "coefficient of foo" suggests that foo is a fundamental quantity, as in a
coefficient of friction. The choice between these terms is often one of personal
preference; e.g. some people might feel that bogosity is a fundamental attribute
and thus say "coefficient of bogosity", whereas others might feel it is a
combination of factors and thus say "bogosity index".
[Jargon File]
(1994-11-29)
Nearby terms:
codewalker « CODIL « codomain « coefficient of X
» coercion » COFF » COGENT
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