"per" or "in accordance with"?...

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Author Message David Axt, AIA, CCS, CSI Senior Member Username: david_axt Post Number: 931 Registered: 03-2002 Posted on Friday, November 02, 2007 - 05:52 pm:    Which one of these sentences is preferred? "Install per manufacturer's instructions" or "Install in accordance with manufacturer's instructions" or are they the same? Richard Baxter, AIA, CSI Senior Member Username: rbaxter Post Number: 63 Registered: 12-2004 Posted on Friday, November 02, 2007 - 06:14 pm:    I believe they mean the same thing. The following is directly from my American Heritage dictionary (impertinent definitions deleted): per (pûr) prep. Abbr. p. Usage Problem. According to; by: Changes were made to the manuscript per the author's instructions. ———————————————————— USAGE NOTE: Per is used in its more general use to mean “according to” (as in per the terms of the contract), it is best reserved for business and legal communications, unless the writer seeks a tone of jocular formality. J. Peter Jordan Senior Member Username: jpjordan Post Number: 254 Registered: 05-2004 Posted on Saturday, November 03, 2007 - 01:05 pm:    How about simply "Installation: Follow manufacturer's instructions." Lynn Javoroski CSI CCS LEED™ AP SCIP Affiliate Senior Member Username: lynn_javoroski Post Number: 674 Registered: 07-2002 Posted on Sunday, November 04, 2007 - 06:31 pm:    On a similar note: does anyone perceive a difference between "in accord with" and "in accordance with"? I try to use the shorter version. Of course, "per" is even shorter. Jo Drummond Senior Member Username: jo_drummond_fcsi Post Number: 9 Registered: 06-2007 Posted on Sunday, November 04, 2007 - 07:07 pm:    "Per" comes from Latin, and means "through". And according to a scholar I know, it adds intensity to the meaning of a sentence such as "We do research following Einstein's ideas", or more positively "We do research per Einstein's ideas". So it can be used in the sense of "as per the terms of the contract". I have been saying "in accordance with", but maybe it's more powerful to say "per". David J. Wyatt Senior Member Username: david_j_wyatt_csi_ccs_ccca Post Number: 82 Registered: 07-2005 Posted on Monday, November 05, 2007 - 09:28 am:    I used to use "in accordance with" a lot. Too wordy, but I never liked "per." I like a "according to." Jeffrey Wilson CSI CCS Senior Member Username: wilsonconsulting Post Number: 13 Registered: 03-2006 Posted on Monday, November 05, 2007 - 09:48 am:    I also avoid "per" and other Latin-sounding phrasing. If we have to check the dictionary for a meaning, that should be a clue that the end users of the specifications (superintendent, installing foreman, etc.) might not be familiar with the term. The shortest word or phrase is not necessarily the most clear or concise. I always try to keep the reader in mind -- simple, direct language like "according to" and "comply with" work well. Marc C Chavez Senior Member Username: mchavez Post Number: 246 Registered: 07-2002 Posted on Monday, November 05, 2007 - 11:00 am:    I'm with Peter on this one. Direction to the contractor is implied so we get to delete the "The Contractor shall..." from many sentences. Per, or according to or any of the others (I believe) can be eliminated from the document in many locations. I must admit that "in accordance with" is a common phrase in most of the "commercial" masters, including the ones I use. I do have several locations where I have simply stated the property, the standard, and the value. Tear strength: ASTM D 751; 100 lbf min. Are the rest of the words implied? Is there anything vague about that string of words? Or as they say in Pig Latin: ifelay isway oftenway away iocechay etweenbay away ommacay andway away oloncay emisay orway ullfay akemay uresay otay eckchay ouryay olonscay evernay useway igpay atinlay inway ouryay ecificationsspay, Gerard Sanchis (Unregistered Guest) Unregistered guest Posted on Monday, November 05, 2007 - 05:14 pm:    I personally like sliced per in a salad with lettuce, nuts, and a light vinaigrette. Ron Beard CCS Senior Member Username: rm_beard_ccs Post Number: 233 Registered: 10-2002 Posted on Tuesday, November 06, 2007 - 12:11 pm:    Usage should be reasonably consistent with the rest of the Project Manual. Depending on the specific project, I may use a more abbreviated form to produce a shorter [smaller] final volume. If one is reasonably consistent in practice, it should be more enforceable if there is ever an issue with the wording. Christopher E. Grimm, CSI, CCS, LEED®-AP, MAI, RLA Senior Member Username: tsugaguy Post Number: 112 Registered: 06-2005 Posted on Wednesday, November 14, 2007 - 09:34 am:    What if the manufacturer's instructions allow them to do something that the spec intentionally tells them not to do? I prefer "in accordance with". Per seems to indicate a more literal interpretation which could result in conflicts, while "in accordance with" means, at least to me, do it in harmony with or in agreement with what they are also telling you to do. The rule of "the specific controls the general" would apply in making that call should a conflict arise, and I suspect the specification being the more customized form would trump the mfr's lit. (Except if the specification was technically unsound). The end result would probably be the same whether you used "per" or something similar. Vivian Volz, RA, CSI, CCS Senior Member Username: vivianvolz Post Number: 96 Registered: 06-2004 Posted on Friday, November 16, 2007 - 01:53 pm:    Meaning: I do think they mean essentially the same thing. Choice: Neither. I like "Install according to manufacturer's written instructions," on the theory that simpler is better but that "per" is jargon. (I guess this means I agree with Jeffrey.) Caveat: What Chris Grimm points out is true, the manufacturer's instructions might conflict with mine. For products I'm not familiar with, I make a point of reading the manufacturer's literature and citing it only if it's both clear and useful. The advantage of this approach is that I can then say something like "Install according to manufacturer's written instructions for the Floating Floor method, except provide edge trim as indicated in Drawings." This way, I can be more specific and point out and resolve any conflict.