"off" or "of" when listing quantities.

[g***@googlemail.com]

Which is the correct word to use, "of" or "off", when listing
quantities? I often see "off" used and it just looks wrong. For
example -

"Six-inch widgets - 4 off"

shouldn't it be "4 of", with this being a shortened form of "4 of
(those)" ?

[Loki Harfagr]

Post by g***@googlemail.com
Which is the correct word to use, "of" or "off", when listing
quantities? I often see "off" used and it just looks wrong.

it really depends...
"thumballyruled" it'd go "may use 'off' when the material can be 'partialized"
for instance as "a slice off ham" Vs "a piece of mind" ;-)

Post by g***@googlemail.com
For example
-
"Six-inch widgets - 4 off"
shouldn't it be "4 of", with this being a shortened form of "4 of
(those)" ?

there, I think we're missing the context, I'd believe in your
example the 'off' is related to the price of the stuff, like
`` 6" widgets - SALE - 4 quid price reduction til Monday ''

now, I may well be wrong and I'm sure some other posters will
help to complete and/or correct this :-)

[g***@googlemail.com]

Post by Loki Harfagr

Post by g***@googlemail.com
Which is the correct word to use, "of" or "off", when listing
quantities? I often see "off" used and it just looks wrong.

it really depends...
"thumballyruled" it'd go "may use 'off' when the material can be 'partialized"
for instance as "a slice off ham" Vs "a piece of mind" ;-)

Post by g***@googlemail.com
For example
-
"Six-inch widgets - 4 off"
shouldn't it be "4 of", with this being a shortened form of "4 of
(those)" ?

there, I think we're missing the context, I'd believe in your
example the 'off' is related to the price of the stuff, like
`` 6" widgets - SALE - 4 quid price reduction til Monday ''
 now, I may well be wrong and I'm sure some other posters will
help to complete and/or correct this :-)

The main areas where "off" seems to be used (or misused?) are the
engineering / building trades. An example is the table on this
website, listing the contents of a box of o-rings -

http://simplybearings.co.uk/shop/p60122/Metric+O+Ring+Seal+Kit+404+Piece/product_info.html

[Loki Harfagr]

Post by g***@googlemail.com

Post by Loki Harfagr

Post by g***@googlemail.com
Which is the correct word to use, "of" or "off", when listing
quantities? I often see "off" used and it just looks wrong.

it really depends...
"thumballyruled" it'd go "may use 'off' when the material can be
'partialized" for instance as "a slice off ham" Vs "a piece of mind"
;-)

Post by g***@googlemail.com
For example
-
"Six-inch widgets - 4 off"
shouldn't it be "4 of", with this being a shortened form of "4 of
(those)" ?

there, I think we're missing the context, I'd believe in your example
the 'off' is related to the price of the stuff, like `` 6" widgets -
SALE - 4 quid price reduction til Monday ''
 now, I may well be wrong and I'm sure some other posters will
help to complete and/or correct this :-)

The main areas where "off" seems to be used (or misused?) are the
engineering / building trades. An example is the table on this website,
listing the contents of a box of o-rings -
http://simplybearings.co.uk/shop/p60122/Metric+O+Ring+Seal+Kit+404+Piece/product_info.html

OK, then the first idea was the correct one, it is like saying
"n pieces from the 'model-desc.'s (box|case|drawer|bag)"
"12 pieces off the 32 by 3 box"
"12 off 32x3" (ellipse on "the box")
it is indeed correct, probably now quite specialized or a bit out of date
(some would probably say pedantic or brittish instead ;-)

[Frederick Williams]

Post by g***@googlemail.com
Which is the correct word to use, "of" or "off", when listing
quantities? I often see "off" used and it just looks wrong. For
example -
"Six-inch widgets - 4 off"
shouldn't it be "4 of", with this being a shortened form of "4 of
(those)" ?

No. "Off" is technical usage in this case and so may not square with
everyday idioms.

[Egbert White]

On Fri, 30 Jan 2009 04:30:41 +0000, Frederick Williams

Post by Frederick Williams

Post by g***@googlemail.com
Which is the correct word to use, "of" or "off", when listing
quantities? I often see "off" used and it just looks wrong. For
example -
"Six-inch widgets - 4 off"
shouldn't it be "4 of", with this being a shortened form of "4 of
(those)" ?

No. "Off" is technical usage in this case and so may not square with
everyday idioms.

Okay, so what does it mean in that context?

[Frederick Williams]

Post by Egbert White
On Fri, 30 Jan 2009 04:30:41 +0000, Frederick Williams

Post by Frederick Williams

Post by g***@googlemail.com
Which is the correct word to use, "of" or "off", when listing
quantities? I often see "off" used and it just looks wrong. For
example -
"Six-inch widgets - 4 off"
shouldn't it be "4 of", with this being a shortened form of "4 of
(those)" ?

No. "Off" is technical usage in this case and so may not square with
everyday idioms.

Okay, so what does it mean in that context?

"Six-inch widgets - 4 off" means "Four six-inch widgets."

[HowieC]

On Sat, 31 Jan 2009 13:10:50 +0000, Frederick Williams
<***@tesco.net> wrote:

<snip>
|> >>
|> >> Which is the correct word to use, "of" or "off", when listing
|> >> quantities? I often see "off" used and it just looks wrong. For
|> >> example -
|> >>
|> >> "Six-inch widgets - 4 off"
|> >>
|> >> shouldn't it be "4 of", with this being a shortened form of "4 of
|> >> (those)" ?
|> >
|> >No. "Off" is technical usage in this case and so may not square with
|> >everyday idioms.
|>
|> Okay, so what does it mean in that context?
|
|"Six-inch widgets - 4 off" means "Four six-inch widgets."

Not sure it is technical, as such. I thought it was a reference
to the practice of ordering the entire quantity in advance, but
only 'drawing them down' as needed. For example: I would order
(and possibly pay for), 30 sheets of plasterboard. But only need
a few at a time. So, I would write my requision for '5 off', and
'off' would mean 'off my previously stated/reserved quantity of
30, leaving 25 to draw at some later date/time'.