to pre- or not to pre-

[KenCunningham]

Just read an interesting piece in 'Computing' (UK) magazine, asking why prepending 'pre-' on to words like book and so on seems to have become something of a habit. Surely to book something implies that it's been done in advance, so the pre- in pre-book is superfluous unless perhaps we're talking about before the general availability of the item/event in question?

 

[KenCunningham]

For bread, don't foget the folic acid. Very effective in the prevention of spina-bifida and other problems in pregnancy, apparently. I read somewhere that it's been added to bread in the US since 1995 and the incidence of spina-bifida has dropped significantly since then. There is a pressure group in the UK arguing for a similar requirement here.

 

[Mike Lewis]

Hi Stella,

You say that baking powder is the same there as it is here. In fact, I think I knew that. It's just that I was a bit confused, having seen some sloppy recipes that (mistakenly) confuse it with baking soda. Now I think of it, I've often bought and used baking powder in the US, and have never had any difficulties.

I agree with your uses for plain sodium bicarb. We always have some in the house, if nothing else as an emergency indegestion cure. I've never tried using it as a raising agent with vinegar. Maybe I'll give that a try next time I make some scones.

Mike




__________________________________
Mike Lewis (Edinburgh, Scotland)

My Visual FoxPro site: www.ml-consult.co.uk

 

[Mike Lewis]

Ken,

I assume it's only commercial bread manufactuers that use folic acid. It's not the sort of ingredient I have to hand when I am baking at home.

My own bread consists of flour, yeast, salt, water and nothing else.

Mike


__________________________________
Mike Lewis (Edinburgh, Scotland)

My Visual FoxPro site: www.ml-consult.co.uk

 

[KenCunningham]

Mike - yes, the idea is to include it in the mixture for Warburtons etc.

 

[tsdragon]

That doesn't provide any information about whether or not the food should or should not be in the oven during the heating up period.

It doesn't have to. Since the "preheat" instruction is invariably the FIRST step, that in itself should tell you it should be done before the food is put in (or even prepared). Whether you say "heat" or "preheat" is irrelevant when it's the first step.

Additionally, if you put the food in during the heating up period, you haven't heated the oven, you have simply set the temperature and turned it on. If the instructions say to "heat oven to 350 degrees" then it wouldn't make sense to put the food in before it gets to that temperature, since it hasn't actually been heated to 350 degrees yet.

The only time the word "preheat" makes sense is if for some strange reason you should heat the oven to some temperature, and then change the temperature once the food is in the oven. Even then it isn't necessary.

Tracy Dryden

Meddle not in the affairs of dragons,
For you are crunchy, and good with mustard.

 

[CajunCenturion]

==> Whether you say "heat" or "preheat" is irrelevant when it's the first step.

To me there is a difference. Heating the oven doesn't tell me that step 2 cannot begin before step 1 is complete. Preheating the oven tells me that step 1 must be complete before step 2 can be started.

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[CRilliterate]

Can you all pre-read my pre-written post?

________________________________________
I am using Windows XP, Crystal Reports 9.0 with SQL Server

 

[CRilliterate]

Is engagement pre-marriage? Sorry, I've ignored this post for too long and now it is just hit me...

________________________________________
I am using Windows XP, Crystal Reports 9.0 with SQL Server

 

[Olaf Doschke]

Hi CRilliterate,

I also think this thread is already pre-tty much too long.

Isn't there the word temperate? To temperate the oven to some temperature? Simply use that one instead of heat and preheat. At least within this thread ;-).

Bye, Olaf.

 

[Grenage]

In response to original post, I would say pre-book is definitely superfluous. "pre-" is used far too often!

I don't see a problem with 'pre-heat', however.


Carlsberg don't run I.T departments, but if they did they'd probably be more fun.

 

[2ffat]

I understand pre-heat but don't like it. I also agree that pre is being overused. I recently heard an art piece described as "pre-post-modernism."


James P. Cottingham
-----------------------------------------
^{I'm number 1,229!
I'm number 1,229!}

 

[SilentAiche]

I don't have a problem with "pre-heat."

My oven times itself. For example, if I set it to 350 degrees, it "pre-heats" for eight minutes. Only when it actually reaches 350 should I put in the dish.

Pre-heating is simply the rise in oven temp.

Tim

[blue]______________________________________________________________
I love logging onto Tek-Tips. It's always so exciting to see what the hell I
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[Stella740pl]

2ffat,
If an art piece described as "pre-post-modernism", it doesn't mean it can be described as "modernism"!

But I guess, a dish washing liquid I've seen marked as "Non-Ultra Dawn" can be quite safely described as just "Dawn".

 

[SilentAiche]

a dish washing liquid I've seen marked as "Non-Ultra Dawn"

There's actually a generic brand known as [blue]Really Average Sunrise[/blue].

As you might imagine, the products have a dispute.

It's just a soap opera, if you ask me.

Tim [smilies!]

[blue]______________________________________________________________
I love logging onto Tek-Tips. It's always so exciting to see what the hell I
said yesterday. [/blue]

 

[CRilliterate]

pre-post-modernism is like great-grand-uncle I would think.
But it is only my pre-thinking.



________________________________________
I am using Windows XP, Crystal Reports 9.0 with SQL Server

 

[columb]

A recent newspaper article, in the UK Guardian if I remember correctly, pointed out that our profession is one of the worst when PCs come preloaded with software.

Ceci n'est pas un signature
Columb Healy

 

[columb]

A nice example for today's Backbytes in Computing magazine

'Our pupils are required to submit pre-prepared work for ICT examinations' says Bill Lamin at Poole Business and Enterprise College

The online version can be found at this address

Ceci n'est pas une signature
Columb Healy

 

[Olaf Doschke]

Pre Grand Prix

 

[SilentAiche]

Speaking from Cave Man Dais...

"Pre-furrence" meant "I'm cold."

Tim


(or was it Pre-furnace?)


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[donbott]

I've always heard that the best things in life are pre.

DonBott

Lean to the left lean to the right
Stand up sit down Fight Fight Fight!
(Lazlo Toth)