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clarify this part, please
Nov 28, 2018 07:52
5 yrs ago
English term

How to express this concept in English?

English Tech/Engineering Construction / Civil Engineering How to express this concept in English?
Lets say there are six piles. Their concrete will be poured in such a way that first the concrete of the first, third and fifth and then the second, fourth and sixth piles will be poured.

In my native language I can express it in two -three phrases, but I don't know how to say it in English. I was suggested "every second pile", but I think it's not the right phrage.

It should look like something like this: "The concrete of the piles will be poured in ....... manner/order/sequence (or whatever)."

Please, advise how to say it.

Thanks.
Responses
4 +5 See explanation
4 alternate piles
4 Alternate pouring of odd and even concrete piles

Discussion

D. I. Verrelli Dec 3, 2018:
"every second [thing]" "Every second [thing]" is not such a bad phrase for your general question, perhaps. The difficulty with your specific question is that you ask about doing first all of the odd, and then all of the even, so ultimately all are done.

If it were only necessary to do one half of a clearly ordered set, then you could say "Start with item 'A', and then every second one from there", or similar. Conversely, to include the other half it would simply become "Start with item 'B', and then every second one from there". Of course, 'A' and 'B' are just placeholders above, intending to indicate that numbering of the full set is unnecessary (if clearly ordered), but identifying the starting point (e.g. "Anna", "First Street", "Size 6") is necessary to avoid misunderstanding.
Piyush Ojha Nov 28, 2018:
Assuming that an action A is to be performed on n numbered objects, one could say: 'Perform A on odd-numbered objects, in order, followed by even-numbered objects, also in order.' For brevity, one might omit 'in order' and 'also in order' because that would be generally understood.

This is essentially the answer given by Hank Sanderson.

Responses

+5
30 mins
Selected

See explanation

1. Number the piles.
2. First pour the concrete in the odd numbered piles, toen in the even numbered piles.

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Note added at 32 mins (2018-11-28 08:25:26 GMT)
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Please replace ‘toen’ by ‘then’ ...
Peer comment(s):
agree Martin Riordan : With a couple of "-" before "numbered"
6 mins
Yes, that's correct - "odd-numbered" Thank you, Martin
agree Shekhar Banerjee
4 hrs
Thanks, Shekhar
agree philgoddard
5 hrs
Thanks, Phil
neutral B D Finch : The piles would have been numbered on the construction drawings before they were ever driven into the ground. No need for "numbered", "odd" and "even" is sufficient.//a) Project management experience; b) https://bit.ly/2Q1AQUo, agreed: not all are driven.
6 hrs
How do you know that? Besides, poured files are not driven into the ground...
agree Piyush Ojha
9 hrs
Thanks, Piyush
agree D. I. Verrelli : This is best for the specific question. For the general question "every second [thing]" might be able to be adapted.
4 days
No, this would not require that in the end all piles were poured...
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Selected automatically based on peer agreement."
4 hrs
English term (edited): every second pile

alternate piles

First, pour concrete in(to) alternate piles, then fill the remaining ones.

Note that I'm not sure about the actual wording, but I am pretty sure that "alternate" is the word you need.

It does however leave it up to the reader to decide whether to start from #1 or #2. If it's an important detail, start by clearing that up:
Starting with the first/second pile, pour concrete in(to) alternate piles, then fill the remaining ones.

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Note added at 4 hrs (2018-11-28 12:03:02 GMT)
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Sorry, the answer from B D Finch didn't appear before I posted.

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Note added at 4 hrs (2018-11-28 12:17:00 GMT)
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In that case, it would be "alternate piles", although "every second pile" works for me too. I wouldn't use "staggered" unless the context specifically lent itself to that use (some sort of zigzag layout, perhaps).
Note from asker:
Thanks for the response. But piles are just an example. I would like to know how to express this concept of doing something in this manner. I would like to know that exact phrase, something line "every second pile" "in staggered manner" etc.
Peer comment(s):
neutral B D Finch : One doesn't pour concrete "into" piles, because the concrete forms the piles.
2 hrs
That's exactly why I restricted my answer to the two words and left the comment about the wording :)
neutral D. I. Verrelli : Not completely convinced: "alternate" (or "alternating") suggests to me that the 'contrasts' are in immediate succession, as in "First a girl, then a boy, and so on".
4 days
I don't really understand your concern, DIV1
Something went wrong...
3 hrs

Alternate pouring of odd and even concrete piles

https://patents.google.com/patent/US20140255106
A concrete foundation ring is formed inside the pile perimeter wall to support a ... are divided into odd and even piles which alternate with one another around the .... The extension extends above the top of the concrete poured in the annular ...



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Note added at 6 hrs (2018-11-28 14:33:25 GMT)
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@Asker
Re your suggestions: "every second pile" is awkward and also implies that alternate ones would be omitted; "in staggered manner" is wrong both because a) it's grammatically wrong and b) "staggered" means something quite different.

You say that "piles are just an example" and that you want to know the "exact phrase". That seems to ignore the importance of context in translation! In any event, the main word to use is "alternate" or "alternately" or "alternating" (depending upon the syntax of your sentence), together with "odd and even".
Note from asker:
Thanks for the response. But piles are just an example. I would like to know how to express this concept of doing something in this manner. I would like to know that exact phrase, something line "every second pile" "in staggered manner" etc.
Peer comment(s):
neutral D. I. Verrelli : Not completely convinced: "alternate" (or "alternating") suggests to me that the 'contrasts' are in immediate succession, just as in your cited patent: "First an odd, then an even, and so on".
4 days
"Alternate", not "alternating" . Having managed construction projects, I don't think I would ever have encountered the term "every second one," or the wording you suggest, in a contract; nor would I have given an instruction with that wording.
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