Terminology question: inherit?

Subject: Terminology question: inherit?
From: "Hart, Geoff" <Geoff-H -at- MTL -dot- FERIC -dot- CA>
To: "TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com>
Date: Fri, 30 Nov 2001 14:10:06 -0500

Richard de Vecchis wonders: <<Programmers often use the word "inherit" as
in: Programmers can create relationships between one object and another.
For example, objects can inherit characteristics from other objects. Is
there a more suitable term to use in end user documentation when describing
software applications?>>

Whether the word's appropriate depends entirely on the end-users you're
writing for. If they're programmers too, then "inherit" is the technically
correct term, and you shouldn't change it without a really good reason. If
you're writing for a general audience, the concept of "inheritance" is
probably irrelevant in most cases, and you shouldn't mention the term at
all. Instead, focus on what inheritance means to the user. For example: If
you change certain features [name them!] of PapaObject, then these features
will also change for ChildObject."

--Geoff Hart, FERIC, Pointe-Claire, Quebec
geoff-h -at- mtl -dot- feric -dot- ca
"User's advocate" online monthly at
www.raycomm.com/techwhirl/usersadvocate.html

"When ideas fail, words come in very handy."--Goethe

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