Colloquialisms have no place in precision work.

"Did you find all the pins on my survey?"

"No sir, we did not find any pins. We found 2 3/4-inch pipes, 2 5/8-inch rebars, a 1-inch axle and a driveshaft."

Really, is this how these conversations are supposed to go?"

That's exactly how mine go.

Thanks, but you didn't answer the question.

Try again.

> A pin is a device used for fastening objects or material together.

A bowling pin obviously holds bowls together. 😀 (and a property corner pin holds contiguous properties together.) 😉

Yes. That is a proper and precise description.

I use what the clients calls them. Do you find or set the pins, yes I did.
Did you find or set my corners, yes I did.
Did you find that 1 inch pipe, no it was 3/4 inch.

On my surveyors I label what I find, and say 5/8" capped iron rod.

Maybe one day a fisherman will tell me rod isnt the correct work to use.

Yes, that is exactly how these conversations are supposed to go.

Let me ask a question to answer your question. Le't say you set a pin. I go into the field and find an axle, two steel reinforcing rods with different diameters and a galvanized steel pipe. Which one is the pin?

I agree. Monument is kind of esoteric.

A pin cushion is a pin cushion. Or I suppose a steel bar / galvanized pipe / iron axle cushion? If there are 4 points at one corner, then what you're calling them out as isn't as much of a problem as the fact that they all exist at one "corner". Professionalism is lost at pin cushions. Just because Surveyor "X" called his/hers out by type doesn't make it the "right" one.

While I am frequently appalled by the language skills of surveyors I converse with the substitution of "pin" for "monument" is not particularly offensive to me.

> There are certain times when pin is exactly the right word. If I was to set a bull pin, that's what I would call it.
>

In my neck of the woods we call that a bull prick; it's a tool, not monument material.;-)

You're right

We should never use "pin" or "pipe".

I kinda like the one I hear around her on occasion, "Stob" (sometimes pronounced stawb).

While we're at it why would anyone use a "lath"? I mean that's something nailed to a stud to place plaster on the wall. Right?

Andy

You can rest assured Scott.

The description 'precision work' implies measurement. At best it is unclear. Perhaps the monument description was unimportant to the article, perhaps not. Did the author get his point across? What was his audience? There are too many unknowns for us to say.
I agree (in general) we can be our own worst enemy at times. I also recognize we can be anal. The 'we' is there for a reason...

Obviously you ignored my earlier post where I stated that I would not use "pin" on a plat or a description. If I was talking to the client and trying to relate which piece of metal was his corner, I'd get specific about it.

With all the problems that exist in the surveying profession, I'm trying to figure out why this topic is the target of your outrage.

I disagree with your implication. Work is more than measurement. Writing is work. Writing needs to be precise. If you would just agree with me then it would be less work.

Do you ever read what I write?

You're right

Thank you Andy. The Board of Licensing also prefers more precise language. Their preference is more a requirement than a suggestion.

Communication involves having the discussion at the level technical enough and more importantly, for a duration long enough, to convey the needed information .....
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If your everyday conversation sounds like a white paper....you probably need to get laid more often....

> I disagree with your implication. Work is more than measurement. Writing is work. Writing needs to be precise. If you would just agree with me then it would be less work.

Less work for you or him?