This site uses cookies. Some of these cookies are essential to the operation of the site, while others help to improve your experience by providing insights into how the site is being used. For more information, please see the ProZ.com privacy policy.
Cookie settings
  1. KudoZ™ Top
  2. English
  3. Printing & Publishing

evolution vs. development

English translation: positive spin

11:33 Mar 12, 2017
English language (monolingual) [PRO]
Science - Printing & Publishing / Scientific Journal editing/proofing
English term or phrase: evolution vs. development
When reviewing scientific or technical articles prior to publication, I notice that a lot of authors, particularly Spanish ones in my case, tend to use "evolve/evolution" when I often feel they really mean "develop/development". I'd like some feedback from native English speakers about this. I'm a bit of a traditionalist and prefer keeping evolve/evolution for the Darwin-type phenomenon we all know and love, rather than simply to describe the progress (development) of figures, but I'd be interested to hear some opinions.

The sentence that prompted this posting right now is as follows:

"This model generalizes the proposal of Mayer et al. (2012) in the sense that the new model is able to describe the evolution of weight distribution throughout an entire production cycle, which could be a powerful tool for fish farm management. "
neilmac
Spain
Local time: 09:18
Selected answer:positive spin
Explanation:
Hi,

Yes, I have though this too - I try to follow the idea that "evolve" (in English) usually implies a more advanced state, whereas "develop" could refer to any sort of change.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 24 mins (2017-03-12 11:57:48 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

"thought"
Selected response from:

Mark Nathan
France
Local time: 09:18
Grading comment
Thanks to everyone for the comments! :-)
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



SUMMARY OF ALL EXPLANATIONS PROVIDED
3 +1positive spin
Mark Nathan


Discussion entries: 4





  

Answers


23 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +1
positive spin


Explanation:
Hi,

Yes, I have though this too - I try to follow the idea that "evolve" (in English) usually implies a more advanced state, whereas "develop" could refer to any sort of change.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 24 mins (2017-03-12 11:57:48 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

"thought"


Mark Nathan
France
Local time: 09:18
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 4
Grading comment
Thanks to everyone for the comments! :-)
Notes to answerer
Asker: Interesting. The paper the sample is from uses "evolution" about twenty times throughout the text and each time I get to it I have to do a double take...


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  acetran
1 day 6 hrs
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)



Login or register (free and only takes a few minutes) to participate in this question.

You will also have access to many other tools and opportunities designed for those who have language-related jobs (or are passionate about them). Participation is free and the site has a strict confidentiality policy.

Return to KudoZ list

KudoZ™ translation help

The KudoZ network provides a framework for translators and others to assist each other with translations or explanations of terms and short phrases.

See also:
ProZ.com term search
Search millions of term translations
Close search
Term search
  • All of ProZ.com
  • Term search
  • Jobs
  • Forums
  • Multiple search