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no further advances have been taken but proper installation of the rock support.
1-cl. First B.A.
Jan 30, 2009 02:35
15 yrs ago
1 viewer *
English term

motion = step ?

English Other Linguistics
I have a text where the word 'motion' has been used as a synonym for 'step'. As in: the next motion is to do xxx ...

Can 'motion' be used this way or am I misreading the phrase?
Responses
2 +6 I don't think "motion" can be used in this way
5 yes
Change log

Feb 4, 2009 09:55: Steffen Walter changed "Removed from KOG" from "motion = step ? > I don't think "motion" can be used in this way by <a href="/profile/26984">Claudia Alvis</a>" to "Reason: Meaningless entry - unsuitable for glossary format."

Discussion

Ken Cox Jan 30, 2009:
Could you post a bit of text as an example? It might be OK in the right context, but it could be a bit eccentric.
Claudia Alvis (asker) Jan 30, 2009:
I don't think the text was translated, it's written in "technical" but overall is very straightforward with a typical-English syntax. It's just that word. The "motions" are the instructions and the series of steps that have to be taken. Like step 1: open the door, step 2: walk out the door, step 3: close the door.

Responses

+6
18 mins
Selected

I don't think "motion" can be used in this way

"The next step is to...."? The alternative to step here might be stage, but not motion.
The only possibility is if it is referring to items on an agenda, which could be referred to as motions, but I don't think that's at all likely.
Was your text translated from another language into English?
Peer comment(s):
agree Patricia Townshend (X)
2 hrs
Thank you.
agree Christine Andersen : Outside a meeting of some sort, motions would sound very odd to me. You might be able to use measure (formal and organised) or action, if step is not ideal every time.
4 hrs
Thank you.
agree Alexandra Taggart : I would think that in one instance "motion" would be applicable if the instruction manual is for a robot operation.
4 hrs
Thank you. Or it might be possible in instructions for physical exercise, but in that case "movement" would be better.
agree Suzan Hamer : and with Christine, that action might be appropriate depending on context; but with the asker that it probably means "step." "Move" or "stage" might also work, again depending on context.
5 hrs
Thank you. Yes.
agree B D Finch : As Christine says, this would only be right if it were a motion put to a meeting.//Sorry, so you did! Motions are not necessarily all on the agenda though.
5 hrs
Thank you. I mentioned that possibility in my answer too.
agree Tania McConaghy
2 days 12 hrs
Thank you.
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Thanks. I guess it was a bad choice of words or maybe a non-native speaker writing that part. Alexondra's point might be the answer since I realized later that the instructions were written for the operators of a machine. :S Thanks again."
20 mins

yes

step, motion, stage and level are commonly used here.

I am sure there will be other words other PorZ members will come up with.

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Note added at 25 mins (2009-01-30 03:01:23 GMT)
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when you are in a meeting, "motion to undertake" always replaces "step and stage"

Another example of motion is where a motion is a unit in a step;

"The next motion we need to do is to turn the red dial 1 degree, then we can move on the the next step"

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Note added at 27 mins (2009-01-30 03:03:01 GMT)
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sorry typo in the last sentence.....on to the next step

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Note added at 33 mins (2009-01-30 03:09:15 GMT)
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with your further text, motions is ok.

If it is how I read it;
Instructions
Motions of how to locate and repair the ....xxxxxx

Step 1/......................

Step 2/.....................
..............................................................................
This indicates the physical steps required to repair etc.

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Note added at 38 mins (2009-01-30 03:13:35 GMT)
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A funny client?? if you go through the motions of finding out the right steps to take and obtain the right answers then he/she ends up with a better end product.
Note from asker:
Sorry I wasn't clear, my client asked me not to post any question here so I didn't want to include the text. It's not motion as in 'motions' in a court but from a series of instructions.
Peer comment(s):
neutral Alexandra Taggart : In the complexity of human activity, of course, "motion"="step". But in instructive texts, say, downloading a program, cooking a dish and following recepe, there are - step1, step2, step3...
4 hrs
Something went wrong...
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