Oct 25, 2004 12:47
19 yrs ago
2 viewers *
English term
test or trial
English
Tech/Engineering
Metallurgy / Casting
Can anyone explain the difference between these two terms? The context is that of industrial testing of pollution control methods. In my particular case, use of NH3 to reduce NOx emissions. The "test or trial", intended only for experimentation purposes and not for full implementation, lasted 15 days.
Responses
| 4 | See explanation below... |
Tony M
|
| 4 +2 | see explanation |
gulser (X)
|
| 4 | FYI |
Mark Xiang
|
| 2 | test |
Jonathan MacKerron
|
Responses
8 hrs
Selected
See explanation below...
A 'trial' means 'to try something out'
A 'test' may also involve trying something out, but can also be applied in the sense of 'testing FOR something' --- leaks, performance, safety, presence/absence of a substance, behaviour etc.
You can use this sort of 'rule-of-thumb' to try substituting in various contexts, to see which fits.
Often, 'testing' of a product / process will take place prior to 'trials' (i.e. once you think it SHOULD work!)
In your particular case, it sounds as if 'trial' MIGHT be usable; as part of the trials, 'testing' might have been performed to determine NOx emission levels --- in this latter case, 'trial' couldn't really be substituted.
A 'test' may also involve trying something out, but can also be applied in the sense of 'testing FOR something' --- leaks, performance, safety, presence/absence of a substance, behaviour etc.
You can use this sort of 'rule-of-thumb' to try substituting in various contexts, to see which fits.
Often, 'testing' of a product / process will take place prior to 'trials' (i.e. once you think it SHOULD work!)
In your particular case, it sounds as if 'trial' MIGHT be usable; as part of the trials, 'testing' might have been performed to determine NOx emission levels --- in this latter case, 'trial' couldn't really be substituted.
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Good explanation, thanks!"
6 mins
Jonathan MacKerron
Native in English
&
English
Retired as of Jan 2019!
Native in: English
Works in: German to English, French to English
test
unless it was compared with another similar product, then trial
+2
15 mins
see explanation
trial : experiment to determine the quality, safety, performance, usefulness, or public acceptance of something
test : a trial run-through of a process or on equipment to find out if it works
If we use these definitions there is not much difference between test and trial for this context.
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Note added at 30 mins (2004-10-25 13:18:02 GMT)
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I think we are talking about a product here. And we have a trial version lasting 15 days. So trial here must be \"experiment experiment to determine the quality, safety, performance, usefulness, or public acceptance of the product\"
And \"test\" here : \"a procedure to ascertain the presence of or the properties of a particular substance\". By testing we will learn if using this product (NH3) reduces the NOx emissons.
test : a trial run-through of a process or on equipment to find out if it works
If we use these definitions there is not much difference between test and trial for this context.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 30 mins (2004-10-25 13:18:02 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
I think we are talking about a product here. And we have a trial version lasting 15 days. So trial here must be \"experiment experiment to determine the quality, safety, performance, usefulness, or public acceptance of the product\"
And \"test\" here : \"a procedure to ascertain the presence of or the properties of a particular substance\". By testing we will learn if using this product (NH3) reduces the NOx emissons.
2 days 1 hr
Mark Xiang
Specializes in field
20 YRS AS MECHANICAL/TECHNICAL ENGINEER!
Native in: Chinese 
Works in: English to Chinese, Chinese to English
FYI
Test: experiment carried out in the laboratory.
Trial: Checking in the actual application
Trial: Checking in the actual application
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