Effective Communication -III: A Word A Week(AWAW)

It is that time of the week to talk about a word which is misused in the wrong usage. I guess this word is being misused due of how it sounds rather than what it really means.

I am referring to the word “ad hoc”. Most of the (mis) usage of this word I have seen is using synonymously with haphazard or without any plan. On the contrary the word means for a specific purpose(when used as adverb)
It could also mean to address immediate problem or immediate need. Technically I have seen Oracle have ad hoc reports. Also extending to Business Intelligence World[1]. Ad hoc in Latin literally means “for this” and which cannot be generalized or adapted to anything else beyond the scope of current context. In Networking world All protocols are ad hoc protocol because they are designed to handle a specific problem but I guess in today’s world we have started seeing one size fit all protocol J which is moving beyond being ad hoc.

For folks interested in Etymology here is the scoop

Ad hoc as adverb[2]
Latin, for this

: for the particular end or case at hand without consideration of wider application
Origin First Known Use: 1659

Ad hoc as adjective[2]
Origin 1879
1)
a : concerned with a particular end or purpose
b : formed or used for specific or immediate problems or needs
2)
: fashioned from whatever is immediately available :

My recommendation for this week use ad hoc as a word for specific purpose as opposed to haphazard


Reference:
[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ad_hoc
[2] http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/adhoc