réserve

16:26 Jan 6, 2019 

I have received two quite long emails on this question from him... he comes to the same conclusion as Tony. I quote in full from the first:

"Just to confirm that this does indeed look like improper usage for "réservations", i.e. box-outs as suggested (and as I use).

Note however that while Scott's Penguin Dict of Bldg DOES have an entry for "box-out", it refers you to the definition under "pocket, box-out (USA blockout)", so presumably "pocket" is the primary word used in the UK.

The BSI Glossary of Bldg and Civ. Eng Terms makes a fine distinction between:

box out - Section within formwork to provide a pocket or aperture.
and
pocket - Small recess formed in a concrete surface.

So for some a box out is part of the formwork while the void thus created is a pocket (a (blind) recess) or an aperture (a "double-ended penetration" (which sounds somewhat pornographic)).

Which is probably why I've always contented myself with "box out"."

13:55 Jan 6, 2019 

I think that there has to be a difference between everyday and technical language over when misuse becomes linguistic change. Technical fields have to be much more conservative and rule-governed. So, I accept Tony's correction over 'réserve' and 'réservation'.

12:57 Jan 6, 2019 

I think when something is basically just downright wrong, there is great resistance to making it 'right' by adding it to dictionaries; only once the incorrect usage has reached majority proportions can lexicographers no longer ignore it and hope it goes away!

12:35 Jan 6, 2019 

Yes, I have to agree with Tony here. It's a little like "cote", "côte", "côté", all that nonsense. But the reason I mentioned dictionaries is because ultimately you would expect some definition (among 20 for "réserve" in Wiktionnaire) to be relevant. None of them appear to be in any dictionaries I've looked at. Conversely, for "réservation" in Wiktionnaire we have (def. 5) "(Spécialement) (Technique) Emplacement vide laissé dans une partie d'ouvrage en Bâtiment et Génie Civil pour un usage en seconde phase tel que fenêtres, niche, socle de machine, etc..." https://fr.wiktionary.org/wiki/réservation

12:10 Jan 6, 2019 

Sadly, your last 2 refs. don't prove anyone wrong: there, it is being used perfectly correctly in a quite different sense, that of 'réserve' = 'spare capacity'
As for 'réserve' = 'réservation', I think this is actually an error, albeit so widespread now that it has become accepted; I find about 10% usage on the many documents I translate. But those are nevere from what i would consider 'authoritative' sources.

11:30 Jan 6, 2019 

https://www.scribd.com/presentation/350629839/Guide-Phase-Su...
... avec les plans BA 3 Exiger la mise en place du câble cuivre nu pour la mise à ... des planchers 5 Vérifier les réserves pour passage des conduites et tuyaux ...

https://docplayer.fr/21896587-1-1-chapitre-1-generalites-gro...
... gaines et réserves pour passage de tuyauterie et autres réseaux Lot Electricité

www.oecd.org/fr/.../100001253 - CCTP LOT ELEC CFORTS.pdf
INTERDISTANCE A RESPECTER ENTRE CHEMINS DE CABLES ...... dans les tablettes, 30 % de réserve pour passage de câbles futurs.

https://conseil.manomano.fr/comment-choisir-ses-raccords-et-...
Les tubes IRL protègent les fils et les câbles électriques dans les caves, les ateliers, ... Une petite réserve permet de pouvoir tirer une nouvelle ligne sans avoir à ...

Admittedly, the French term is more about the space within the boxing and the English term is more about its sides. However, it does come down to the same thing.

21:17 Jan 5, 2019 

You're right, I shouldn't have included that link. There are one or two regulars here, however, who will have seen red at the word "réserve" and assumed the asker hadn't bothered (as I did) scrutinising the archives very closely. Putting a link there was my way of neutralising these Witchfinder Generals.

As to your claim that the usage is correct, perhaps you could give an authority or two to substantiate that. Tony M suspects that it's bad drafting. I couldn't find any sign "out there" that this works in French, including the definitions from the usual dictionaries. Please prove me wrong!

14:56 Jan 5, 2019 

Your link to the previous KudoZ question is seriously misleading. It's a completely different context.

In your text, the usage is perfectly valid and correct.