Modern handyman lingo

 There's so much going on nowadays that people work on.  I'm sure people will say I'm being pedantic when I start talking about how words mean things and that effective communication with customers and colleagues is often critical to a job done right.  But, it's true.  And effective communication depends on consistency in words maintaining their meaning.

For example, so, SO, many things we work on are from pre-fabricated kits.  Furniture,  sheds, cabinets,  you name it, there's a pre-fab kit out there for it.  Now, I'm not opposed to pre-fab kits.  But, when I put one together,  I'm not "building" whatever that item is.  I am "assembling" that item.  It's already been "built".  I'm just putting it together.

For most of my life anyway, the text books, dictionaries,  and other people in the industry,  "building" something is the combination of fabrication and assembly of said thing.  

If I'm not fabricating it, I'm not building it.  I'm just assembling the parts already fabricated.  I've actually seen people use the phrase, "I'm building this______, from scratch." And it's in reference to a kit.

My friend, you are not building anything, let alone "from scratch" if you are assembling a kit.  "Building" already assumes the fabrication which is obviously already done.  "From scratch" implies that you not only did the basic measuring and cutting, but actually made the hardware and other bits usually purchased, as well.  Which most people assuredly have not done.

And, it's OK that one "only" assembles" something.  It's expedient,  it's often more affordable,  it's generally less resource intensive,  and it removes most opportunities for error.  Do your assembly Thang, it's fine.

But, don't try to make people think you're doing something you clearly and obviously are not doing.  If you're building a kit, you're not "building" anything.  That's misleading and assumes credit for doing skilled work that one hasn't done. 

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