Engineer vs engineer

[Richard Lewis]

I find that use of Engineer vs engineer depends on the level of importance assigned the engineer.  I find that very top-down organizations are heavy into assigning high priority to just about everything - especially a federal gov agency.  For example:
   
  A non-federal government tech writer might write:
   
      The janitor must empty the executive trash can at night.
   
  In contrast, a federal government agency tech writer might write:
   
        The Janitor must empty the Executive Trash Can at night.  
   
  Richard Lewis

eric.dunn at ca.transport.bombardier.com wrote:
  While there is a difference in semantics between the capital letter 
Engineer and the lower case engineer in discussions on this list and 
elsewhere, realise that the distinction is not allowed or tolerated in all 
jurisdictions.

In Quebec, according to law, the only people allowed to use the term/title 
engineer are either members of the OIQ or Forestry Engineers. All others 
are liable to prosecution and fines between 600 and 6000$. And that is 
with or without qualification of the title engineer..

The OIQ had a judgement against Microsoft Canada over the title 
"Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer" or M.C.S.E. Microsoft appealed, and 
the judgement was against them.

http://www.oiq.qc.ca/jugement_decision/107/0118-0651.pdf

The individual named in the case was spared a fine, but Microsoft was 
found guilty of encouraging and promoting the false use of the title 
engineer.

Something to consider when handing out business cards containing possibly 
controlled titles and designations in another jurisdiction...

Eric L. Dunn
Senior Technical Writer



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