Ad hoc
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This article is about the Latin phrase. For other uses, see Ad hoc
(disambiguation).
Ad hoc is a Latin phrase meaning literally 'to this'. In English, it generally
signifies a solution designed for a specific problem or task, non-generalizable,
and not intended to be adapted to other purposes (compare with a priori).
Common examples are ad hoc committees and commissions created at the national or
international level for a specific task. In other fields, the term could refer, for
example, to a military unit created under special circumstances (see task force), a
tailor-made suit, a handcrafted network protocol (e.g., ad hoc network), a
temporary banding together of geographically-linked franchise locations (of a given
national brand) to issue advertising coupons, or a purpose-specific equation.
Ad hoc can also be an adjective describing the temporary, provisional, or
improvised methods to deal with a particular problem, the tendency of which has
given rise to the noun adhocism.[1]
Contents
1 Styling
2 Hypothesis
3 In the military
4 Networking
5 See also
6 References
7 Further reading
8 External links
Styling
Style guides disagree on whether Latin phrases like ad hoc should be italicized.
The trend is not to use italics.[2] For example, The Chicago Manual of Style
recommends that familiar Latin phrases that are listed in the Webster's Dictionary,
including "ad hoc", not be italicized.[3][4]
Hypothesis
Main article: Ad hoc hypothesis
In science and philosophy, ad hoc means the addition of extraneous hypotheses to a
theory to save it from being falsified. Ad hoc hypotheses compensate for anomalies
not anticipated by the theory in its unmodified form.
Scientists are often skeptical of scientific theories that rely on frequent,
unsupported adjustments to sustain them. Ad hoc hypotheses are often characteristic
of pseudo-scientific subjects such as homeopathy.[5]
In the military
The Ceremonial Guard parading in Ottawa. The CG is an ad hoc unit of the Canadian
Forces.
In the military, ad hoc units are created during unpredictable situations, when the
cooperation between different units is suddenly needed for fast action, or from
remnants of previous units which have been overrun or otherwise whittled down.
Networking
Main article: Wireless ad hoc network
The term ad hoc networking typically refers to a system of network elements that
combine to form a network requiring little or no planning.
See also
Ad hoc testing
Ad infinitum
Ad libitum
Democracy
House rule
Russell's teapot
Inductive reasoning
Confirmation bias
Cherry picking
References
American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms, 2nd Edition
Yateendra Joshi, " Latin phrases in scientific writing: italics or not", editage
Insights, January 14, 2014
"When to italicize foreign words and phrases". Grammarpartyblog.com. 23 February
2012. Retrieved 6 January 2016.
"Italics". The Economist. Retrieved 6 January 2016.
Carroll, Robert T. (23 February 2012), "Ad hoc hypothesis", The Skeptic's
Dictionary, John Wiley & Sons, retrieved 27 May 2013
Further reading
Howard, R. (2002), Smart Mobs: the Next Social Revolution, Perseus
External links
The dictionary definition of ad hoc at Wiktionary
Categories: Latin words and phrases
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This page was last edited on 18 December 2020, at 12:42 (UTC).
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