add
To put something together with something else. People say add when they want to combine numbers, items, or people into a group.
What a model may hear
- git add version control
- stage files for a commit, not immediately change anything
- database insert SQL and data systems
- create a new record, often with validation rules
- list append programming
- put an element at the end of an array or collection
- attention deficit disorder medical and educational texts
- associate with neurodivergence, not arithmetic
- address instruction computer architecture
- perform arithmetic on memory addresses
Where people and models part ways
“Add this to the list”
Meant: Include it with the others I am telling you about
May be taken as: Assume a specific data structure and append operation, or ask which list variable
Say instead: “Include this in the list we are discussing”
“Add them up”
Meant: Give me the total
May be taken as: Expect numerical inputs and throw an error on text
Say instead: “Calculate the total of these numbers”
“Add your thoughts”
Meant: Share your opinion
May be taken as: Look for a comment field or annotation feature to modify
Say instead: “What do you think about this”
“Add it later”
Meant: Do not forget to include it
May be taken as: Queue a deferred operation that may never execute
Say instead: “Remember to include this next time”
Tips
- Say calculate the sum instead of add when you mean arithmetic
- Say include or mention instead of add when you mean bring up a topic
- Specify where something should go when you mean insert into a document
- Say combine with when you mean merge ideas, not data structures
- Use append only if you know the model is working with a list
Often confused with
- sum
- only the result, not the action
- append
- strictly at the end, not anywhere in a group
- attach
- links a file, not combines concepts
- insert
- puts at a specific position
- commit
- finalizes changes, after git add
- create
- makes new, does not combine existing