Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Language/2022 May 18

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May 18

Reparability

Is reparability the American English version of repairability (see example)? I did not find a good answer to this question online. --Leyo 09:42, 18 May 2022 (UTC)

Wiktionary considers reparability an "Alternative form of repairability". However, reparable is pronounced /ˈɹɛp(ə)ɹəb(ə)l/, and I'd expect the pronunciation /ˌɹɛp(ə)ɹəˈbɪləti/ for reparability, setting it apart from the pronunciation /ɹɪˌpɛɹəˈbɪləti/ of repairability. I do not think the difference is one of the US versus Britain, but between legal use (redressability by means of a reparation) and every-day use (fixability by tinkering).  --Lambiam 11:20, 18 May 2022 (UTC)

Reparable is not often used, but it's antonym "irreparable" is more often used, generally with the idiom "irreparable harm", meaning, "damage which cannot be fixed". --Jayron32 11:32, 18 May 2022 (UTC)

I think this is the legal sense. If someone runs their Humvee over their neighbour's rubbish bin, it may well be damaged beyond repair. However, the careless driver can reimburse the cost of a new bin, so the damage is not irreparable.  --Lambiam 19:01, 19 May 2022 (UTC)

Thanks for the responses so far. I've just noticed that Reparability is currently not a redirect to Repairability. --Leyo 20:14, 18 May 2022 (UTC)

WP:SOFIXIT. Wikipedia is not yet complete, and has lots of things which should be, but are not yet. It is only the responsibility of the person who notices and cares to fix it. You appear to be fully qualified to do so. --Jayron32 11:39, 19 May 2022 (UTC)