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middle-term vs. mid-term vs. medium-term
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Jaakov
Feb 6, 2012, 2:23:41 PM2/6/12
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Dear all:
What is the difference between a mid-term goal, a middle-term goal, and
a medium-term goal? And between a mid-term vision, a middle-term vision,
and a medium-term vision? And between a mid-term plan, a middle-term
plan, and a medium-term plan?
Thank you in advance,
Jaakov.
What is the difference between a mid-term goal, a middle-term goal, and
a medium-term goal? And between a mid-term vision, a middle-term vision,
and a medium-term vision? And between a mid-term plan, a middle-term
plan, and a medium-term plan?
Thank you in advance,
Jaakov.
Mark Brader
Feb 6, 2012, 3:07:38 PM2/6/12
to
"Jaakov":
a previously specified term. For example, at a university the winter
academic term might extend from January to April; if so, then you would
expect "midterm exams" will be held sometime around the end of February.
In US politics, the next presidential term of office will be from
January 2013 to January 2017; the elections (for other offices) in
November 2014, taking effect in January 2015, will be "midterm elections".
"Medium-term" applies to things like plans and forecasts. It means
they extend farther into the future than "short-term" ones but not
as far as "long-term" ones. There isn't a more specific meaning
unless it's established by custom for a particular milieu. But for
example, in some businesses a long-term plan might cover the next
10-20 years, a medium-term plan the next 3 years, and a short-term
plan the next 6 months.
So in the case of goals, visions, or plans, I normally would expect
the expression to be "medium-term" in all three cases.
However, "midterm" is also used as a noun, in which case it's short
for something like "midterm exam" or "midterm election" and you're
expected to understand the meaning. So if a political campaigner
speaks of "midterm goals", it probably means "goals in relation to
the next midterm election".
"Middle-term" is not a common usage in my experience, but I would
take it to mean the same as "medium-term" unless the context indicated
something else.
--
Mark Brader | "This man must be very ignorant, for he answers
Toronto | every question he is asked." -- Voltaire
m...@vex.net | "'I resemble that remark!'" -- Steve Summit
My text in this article is in the public domain.
> What is the difference between a mid-term goal, a middle-term goal, and
> a medium-term goal? And between a mid-term vision, a middle-term vision,
> and a medium-term vision? And between a mid-term plan, a middle-term
> plan, and a medium-term plan?
"Mid-term" or "midterm" refers to a specific time near the middle of
> a medium-term goal? And between a mid-term vision, a middle-term vision,
> and a medium-term vision? And between a mid-term plan, a middle-term
> plan, and a medium-term plan?
a previously specified term. For example, at a university the winter
academic term might extend from January to April; if so, then you would
expect "midterm exams" will be held sometime around the end of February.
In US politics, the next presidential term of office will be from
January 2013 to January 2017; the elections (for other offices) in
November 2014, taking effect in January 2015, will be "midterm elections".
"Medium-term" applies to things like plans and forecasts. It means
they extend farther into the future than "short-term" ones but not
as far as "long-term" ones. There isn't a more specific meaning
unless it's established by custom for a particular milieu. But for
example, in some businesses a long-term plan might cover the next
10-20 years, a medium-term plan the next 3 years, and a short-term
plan the next 6 months.
So in the case of goals, visions, or plans, I normally would expect
the expression to be "medium-term" in all three cases.
However, "midterm" is also used as a noun, in which case it's short
for something like "midterm exam" or "midterm election" and you're
expected to understand the meaning. So if a political campaigner
speaks of "midterm goals", it probably means "goals in relation to
the next midterm election".
"Middle-term" is not a common usage in my experience, but I would
take it to mean the same as "medium-term" unless the context indicated
something else.
--
Mark Brader | "This man must be very ignorant, for he answers
Toronto | every question he is asked." -- Voltaire
m...@vex.net | "'I resemble that remark!'" -- Steve Summit
My text in this article is in the public domain.
Snidely
Feb 6, 2012, 3:13:32 PM2/6/12
to
Jaakov <jaa...@Use-Author-Supplied-Address.invalid> scribbled something
like ...
In the US, "mid-term X" would most often be used in reference to the
term in office of a US President. For instance, 2010 was the mid-term
point for Barak Obama, and various analysts and pundits had commentary
on how the President was faring against his campaign promises, and also
noting what he was now urging as goals, plans, and visions. "Mid-term
test" is normally a feature of the academic calendar, though.
"medium-term" would be used to look out into the future past the
short-term, but not as far as the long-term. "Medium-term goals" are
often milestones on the path to "long-term goals". The difference
between short, medium, and long is often context dependent.
For SpaceX, a company working on rockets and capsules, a short-term goal
is to launch the Dragon capsule and rendezvous with the International
Space Station. A medium-term goal is to launch a manned version of
Dragon to ISS. A long-term goal is to launch a capsule to Mars.
For troops, a short-term goal would be to complete a sortie and return
to base, a medium-term goal would be to secure a region, and a long-term
goal would be a peaceful settlement.
"middle term" is not a widely used American English expression. I might
expect to see it in discussing mathematics (pure or applied) to discuss
a portion of a formula or equation.
/dps
like ...
term in office of a US President. For instance, 2010 was the mid-term
point for Barak Obama, and various analysts and pundits had commentary
on how the President was faring against his campaign promises, and also
noting what he was now urging as goals, plans, and visions. "Mid-term
test" is normally a feature of the academic calendar, though.
"medium-term" would be used to look out into the future past the
short-term, but not as far as the long-term. "Medium-term goals" are
often milestones on the path to "long-term goals". The difference
between short, medium, and long is often context dependent.
For SpaceX, a company working on rockets and capsules, a short-term goal
is to launch the Dragon capsule and rendezvous with the International
Space Station. A medium-term goal is to launch a manned version of
Dragon to ISS. A long-term goal is to launch a capsule to Mars.
For troops, a short-term goal would be to complete a sortie and return
to base, a medium-term goal would be to secure a region, and a long-term
goal would be a peaceful settlement.
"middle term" is not a widely used American English expression. I might
expect to see it in discussing mathematics (pure or applied) to discuss
a portion of a formula or equation.
/dps
Jaakov
Feb 7, 2012, 7:06:04 AM2/7/12
to
Jaakov.
bob
Feb 7, 2012, 7:57:26 AM2/7/12
to
On Feb 6, 8:23 pm, Jaakov <jaa...@Use-Author-Supplied-Address.invalid>
wrote:
in the US there are "mid-term elections" half way through the main 4
year cycle.
middle-term: if a period of time is divided into terms, this refers to
the middle one. For example the academic year at a university might
be divided into Michaelams term, Lent term and Easter term, then Lent
would be the middle term.
medium term: some sort of timescale for planning the future that is
farther into the future than "short term" but not as far away as "long
term". The absolute values of these will of course depend on the
particular project. In the short term I'm paying off my student loan,
in the medium term I want to save for a deposit to buy a house and in
the long term I plan to start a family.
Robin
wrote:
> Dear all:
>
> What is the difference between a mid-term goal, a middle-term goal, and
> a medium-term goal? And between a mid-term vision, a middle-term vision,
> and a medium-term vision? And between a mid-term plan, a middle-term
> plan, and a medium-term plan?
mid-term: about half way through a term (period of time). For example
>
> What is the difference between a mid-term goal, a middle-term goal, and
> a medium-term goal? And between a mid-term vision, a middle-term vision,
> and a medium-term vision? And between a mid-term plan, a middle-term
> plan, and a medium-term plan?
in the US there are "mid-term elections" half way through the main 4
year cycle.
middle-term: if a period of time is divided into terms, this refers to
the middle one. For example the academic year at a university might
be divided into Michaelams term, Lent term and Easter term, then Lent
would be the middle term.
medium term: some sort of timescale for planning the future that is
farther into the future than "short term" but not as far away as "long
term". The absolute values of these will of course depend on the
particular project. In the short term I'm paying off my student loan,
in the medium term I want to save for a deposit to buy a house and in
the long term I plan to start a family.
Robin
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