Ad hoc is a Latin phrase meaning literally 'for this'. In English, it typically signifies a solution for a specific purpose, problem, or task rather than a generalized solution adaptable to collateral instances (compare with a priori).
Common examples are ad hoc committees and commissions created at the national or international level for a specific task. For example, in other fields, the term could refer to a military unit created under special circumstances (see task force), 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]
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]
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.
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.
In governanceedit
In national and sub-national governance, ad hoc bodies may be established to deal with specific problems not easily accommodated by the current structure of governance or to address multi-faceted issues spanning several areas of governance. In the UK and other commonwealth countries, ad hoc Royal Commissions[6] may be set up to address specific questions as directed by parliament.
^"Royal commissions". BBC. 27 October 2008. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
Further readingedit
Rheingold, Howard. (2002), Smart Mobs: the Next Social Revolution, Perseus
External linksedit
The dictionary definition of ad hoc at Wiktionary
March 06, 2024
this, article, about, latin, phrase, other, uses, disambiguation, confused, with, priori, posteriori, latin, phrase, meaning, literally, this, english, typically, signifies, solution, specific, purpose, problem, task, rather, than, generalized, solution, adapt. This article is about the Latin phrase For other uses see Ad hoc disambiguation Not to be confused with A priori and a posteriori Ad hoc is a Latin phrase meaning literally for this In English it typically signifies a solution for a specific purpose problem or task rather than a generalized solution adaptable to collateral instances compare with a priori Common examples are ad hoc committees and commissions created at the national or international level for a specific task For example in other fields the term could refer to a military unit created under special circumstances see task force 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 In governance 5 Networking 6 See also 7 References 8 Further reading 9 External linksStyling editStyle 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 editMain 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 edit nbsp 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 In governance editIn national and sub national governance ad hoc bodies may be established to deal with specific problems not easily accommodated by the current structure of governance or to address multi faceted issues spanning several areas of governance In the UK and other commonwealth countries ad hoc Royal Commissions 6 may be set up to address specific questions as directed by parliament Networking editMain 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 editAd hoc testing Ad infinitum Ad libitum Adhocracy Democracy House rule Russell s teapot Inductive reasoning Confirmation bias Cherry pickingReferences edit 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 Archived from the original on 22 June 2018 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 amp Sons retrieved 27 May 2013 Royal commissions BBC 27 October 2008 Retrieved 4 May 2021 Further reading editRheingold Howard 2002 Smart Mobs the Next Social Revolution PerseusExternal links edit nbsp The dictionary definition of ad hoc at Wiktionary Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ad hoc amp oldid 1205278162, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
