Indicating the Amount and/or the Size of a Path

Indicating the Amount and/or the Size of a Path
Submitted by Ray Cook and Charlotte Wile - November 9, 2001

Last summer at ICKL, Ann Guest presented a paper about the confusion that sometimes arises because measurement signs, such as those in Ex. 1 and Ex. 2 below, have various meanings. Her paper got us thinking about the use of those signs in path indications.

For instance, according to standard usage, Ex. 3 indicates 1/4 of a large circle; in other words, the measurement sign shows the size of the path design and the pin shows the amount of that design that is traveled on or traced. Ex. 4 just indicates an amount (size is not stated). Following this pattern, Ex. 5 just indicates a size (the amount is not stated).

In Ex. 3 and Ex. 4 the pin states a specific amount (1/4). How would one indicate a general amount, e.g., a relatively "large amount," or a relatively "small amount"? The measurement signs in Ex. 1 and Ex. 2 should not be used, because, as stated above, they are already used to indicate the size of the circle.

To deal with this issue, we suggest the following:

The amount of the path that is traveled or drawn could be indicated with a pin (to show specific amount) or a plain measurement sign (to show a general amount). (Ex. 6)

The size of the path design could be indicated with a measurement sign inside the sign for space, as in Ex. 7. This corresponds with the meaning of that sign inside a design drawing indication, as in Ex. 8.

Thus size and/or amount could be clearly and consistently stated, as illustrated below.

Ex. 9) any amount of any size circle
Ex. 10) small amount of any size circle
Ex. 11) any amount of a small size circle
Ex. 12) small amount of a small size circle
Ex. 13) small amount of a large size circle
Ex. 14) 1/4 of a small size circle
Ex. 15) any amount of any large size path

Question: How would this idea apply to straight paths? For instance, is there a difference between Ex. 16, which says to move a small amount (i.e., move a short distance) on a straight path, and Ex. 17, which says move on a straight path that is short in size? Could both modifiers be used, e.g., move a small amount of a long straight path Ex. 18?