Sterile, Unsterile, Non-sterile - terminology confusion (May/09/2007 )
I see the word 'non-sterile' used every where - in our lab and many papers too.
But, is the correct term 'non-sterile' or 'unsterile'? What is the difference between these two?
non-sterile is the correct terminology, I don't think unsterile is a word.
never heard of "unsterile"
is there any chance to coined this term by any japanese???
is there any chance to coined this term by any japanese???
If U haven't really heard the term 'unsterile' then U may need to freshen up your vocabulary.There ARE both the terms. If it is Japanese who have coined the term then they are good.
there are lots of words in English like this (un , non)
non-sterile seems right
never heard of "unsterile"
is there any chance to coined this term by any japanese???
If U haven't really heard the term 'unsterile' then U may need to freshen up your vocabulary.There ARE both the terms. If it is Japanese who have coined the term then they are good.
"Unsterile" is not the proper word, I don't think. I've never used or heard it. It doesn't appear in any dictionary that I can find. Even if there is precedent for modern usage, "non-sterile" is most definitely preferred.
I think you will have trouble finding "unsterile" in any English dictionary. Just because you saw a word in a scientific paper, it doesn't mean that it is a real English word. Scientists (particularly those from non English speaking countries) have a tendency to make words up to suit something that they are trying to explain.
We were just trying to help you out with correct terminology, if you never intended to take heed of any of our posts, then why did you ask the question in the first place? My vocabulary is just fine, thankyou very much.
nabin please give me a link or reference where you saw "unsterile" was used cause i should freshen up my vocabulary
thank you
Thank you everyone for the suggestions. I think I have found my answer but will post it here only after I have enough confidence about it though the answer is convincing so that I avoid any further confusion. I have already been questioned about my intent of starting the question; so I need to be careful on that.
I cannot list all the papers where I have come across the term 'unsterile' but I googled it and got this paper. I am sure WHO doesn't over see such mistakes - the term is in the 'title' it self not just somewhere in the body.
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=A...c0f09e699c7c8b1
All of you are right; had I found the terms in dictionaries I would have never put the question. Just to be sure, I googled and found this. Please find the word 'unsterile' in the list. I tried to highlight the term but couldn't.
http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?book...amp;x=0&y=0
I sincerely aplogise to 'lauralee' for my comment and also 'T. reesei'. 'Laurelee' was mistakenly quoted when I tried to quote 'T. ressei' as I was little upset seeing comment about 'Japanese'. They are not so good in English but nor are we; so we do not have any liberty to mock them and if we look back and see all the posts we have, we have enough mistakes to be ashamed of ourself. But, I suppose it was just for humor and there is no harm if that is the case. I am sorry, I could not understand the intention. 'Lauralee' please allow me to remove your comment from my quoted portion. That part was never intended to be there.
I had tried to find the difference between those terms but only when I could not, I thought it is better to ask the experts who use these terms everyday. I do too when labeling bottles of PBS and I label them as 'non-sterile' and it was then when this question came to my mind as when I was working in my clinic, I frequently used the term 'unsterile'.
I looked up 'Theasurus' Roget's New Millennium™ Thesaurus, First Edition (v 1.3.1)' and as antonym of 'sterile' they have 'unsterile' and they have no where mentioned 'non-sterile'. I looked up online Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary and didn't find both the terms there.
I hope I have been able to make my intentions clear.
Further opinion on this warmly welcomed and please give me sometime to confirm what I heard the difference is is right.
in my opinion both are correct..and the real problem is the "english language itself" which is so diverse and have already branched out to various versions (and abuses)..for questions like this, i will only trust an english language expert as a good source not necessarily a scientist or native english speaker