Feb 27, 2011 02:56
13 yrs ago
English term

address

English Other Other
Please select up to ____ ranks for the_____question. The following error(s) occurred. Please address each error and try again. You did not select a choice for the required field.

What is the meaning of "address" in this context?
Change log

Feb 27, 2011 02:58: Travelin Ann changed "Term asked" from "address (here)" to "address"

Responses

+7
1 min
English term (edited): address (here)
Selected

fix

It means "please fix (take care of, do something about, etc.) each error."

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Note added at 2 mins (2011-02-27 02:58:46 GMT)
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Other synonyms: "correct" & "deal with"

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Note added at 9 mins (2011-02-27 03:05:49 GMT)
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I would say that "address or apply oneself to something, direct one's efforts towards" is the applicable definition in this case. The idea is to address your efforts towards correcting the error(s).

Hope that helps!

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Note added at 2 days1 hr (2011-03-01 04:31:18 GMT)
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Just a note...I'm not suggesting in any way that the definition of "address" in a vacuum isn't sometimes different from what I've suggested. I think langclinic's question itself was a reflection of the variety of possible definitions, and of the ambiguity of the term. English speakers do not look up terms in dictionaries before selecting them, and dictionaries merely try to keep up with living usage. In this case, the dictionary definitions that Google provided were not nuanced enough to cover the meaning conveyed by the sentence, no matter how forcefully one might point to these definitions.

In my opinion, the only reasonable way to interpret the term in this context, where one is being asked to address the errors on an Internet form before the computer will allow that form to be submitted, would be as a synonym for "fix" or "correct." Here, fully "addressing the error" can only mean "making the error go away," which is another way to say "correcting the error." There is no in between, and the computer will not recognize you as having addressed the error unless you eliminate the error altogether.

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Note added at 2 days1 hr (2011-03-01 04:46:54 GMT)
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To those who are obsessed with dictionary definitions, my explanation actually does show up in the OED as definition #8 for "address": "To right what is wrong; to redress (wrongs), reform (abuses)."

Even if I hadn't found this definition, however, I would still insist that "address" is being used in this context as a synonym for "correct" or "fix." Clearly, the author is asking the reader to make the mistakes disappear.
Note from asker:
Thanks for your prompt answer. I was also thinking about it.My dictionary has ten meanings of address in the sense of verb but it has not been mentioned anywhere ak to give a speech to put an address on (an envelope) direct a question at someone address or apply oneself to something, direct one's efforts towards something, such as a question greet, as with a prescribed form, title, or name Example: Call me Mister|She calls him by first name access or locate by address act on verbally or in some form of artistic expression Example: The course covered all of Western Civilization|The new book treats the history of China speak to someone adjust and aim (a golf ball) at in preparation of hitting That is why, I chose to ask it so as to be sure about it. Thanks again for the quick reply.
Peer comment(s):

agree Stephanie Ezrol
1 hr
Thank you!
agree Komeil Zamani Babgohari : yes! in this case it's surely (fixing, correcting). Good for you and have a good weekend
4 hrs
Yes, in this context, an active approach (rather than mere contemplation and reflection) is needed. Thank you!
agree Jack Doughty
5 hrs
Thank you!
agree cmwilliams (X)
6 hrs
Thank you!
agree Suzan Hamer : Yes, with Komeil. Here I would say the idea is to deal with or remedy each error, rather than merely discussing or examining, or as you say, reflecting upon.
10 hrs
Precisely. Thank you!
agree Phong Le
11 hrs
Thank you!
agree Arabic & More : Agree with Suzan on this.
11 hrs
Thank you!
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Thanks to all of you for your valuable help"
+7
8 mins

examine/analyse

The instruction means to give attention to each error, examine/analyse it, and try again.

"address or apply oneself to something, direct one's efforts towards something, such as a question" (taken from the link below)
Peer comment(s):

agree Tony M
1 hr
Thanks!
agree Sarah Bessioud
4 hrs
Thank you!
agree Joyce A
5 hrs
Thank you!
agree Shera Lyn Parpia
5 hrs
Thanks!
agree Thayenga
5 hrs
Thank you!
agree Donna Stevens
18 hrs
Thanks!
agree eski
1 day 8 hrs
Thank you!
Something went wrong...

Reference comments

14 hrs
Reference:

definition

In my DCE it says: "To address a problem/question/issue etc. If you address a problem, you start trying to solve it."

So it is halfway between the suggested answers "fix" and "examine", really.
Peer comments on this reference comment:

neutral JapanLegal : I think that in this context, it really means "fix." This looks like some kind of an Internet form, meaning that it's almost certainly black or white. Either you address the errors by correcting them or you can't submit the form.
6 mins
Well, really you first address the errors, then you correct them. Of course it comes to the same thing in the end!
neutral Martin Riordan : Context: "...and try again." So the idea is to re-study the question "and try again". Diana's definition has no suggestion of "fixing" the question, just trying to get it right (and there´s no guarantee of that! :-).
17 hrs
Quite! Although the inference of the source is that it may well be correct second time round ....
agree 784512 (X) : It is more fix than examine, but it is indeed more than just fix. It does indeed mean to take that initial look to figure out how to solve something.
3 days 8 hrs
Thank you, Rose!
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