Pushed meeting back/forward - PROPER WORD USAGE
 

So, there was a discussion tonight at work about some proper terminology. It got a rise out of the employees and no one could figure out who was right. I figured I would bring it up here and find out your opinions.

This is how it was brought to me:

Say I came to you and told you that there was going to be a meeting at one o'clock that you needed to attend. Then, I came to you later to tell you it was at 1:15 instead. Would you say the meeting was pushed forward or pushed back?

My answer was that the meeting was pushed back to a later time. Pushing it forward would mean I would have to be there at an earlier time.

The contrasting argument was that the meeting was pushed forward because you are going forward in time, not backwards.

What would you say would be the proper terminology?

this might sound weird, but i look at it this way.

there are two things that are important to think about here.

a) The meeting which is a fixed milestone or event,
and
b) Time - which is movable resource.

Of these, the most important thing isnt the meeting really because it is just an event that does not influence any outcomes, but the time.

You need to assume that time is a person or entity.

Lets assume that the current time is 12pm and time for the meeting was changed from 1pm to 12:30pm, then time came closer to me (assuming that time the 'person' walked a step towards me).

if it was pushed back to 1:30pm, it would take a step back away from me.


this makes perfect sense to me, and that the way i see it..but maybe it makes sense only to me??? it does sound weird now that ive re-read it but its crystal clear in my head.

To delay a meeting, you're pushing it back.

To hold a meeting earlier than at first scheduled, you're pushing it forward.

I wish I could show the people at work this thread.

The score before i left was pushing back up by three. We are the educated people. :P

Just tell them you asked your friend who's a professional editor.

Oh trust me. I will. :)

I agree with everyone in the thread so far.

Yep to what BG said.

Actually, RJ...when I read your OP, I kinda scratched my head and thought...Wait, there are people who think that the later time would be forward in time? Weirdos.

logically, either could be correct.
usage-wise, i agree with everything.
and with what's been said in this thread.

I should note that I would recommend other terms to avoid confusion.

You should instead say delay/postpone or bring forward/advance (or whatever) because these terms are more to the point. Plus you should always include the new time & date for clarity.

So, let's say it's the meeting is at 1:00:

The meeting is moved to 1:15:

"We delayed the meeting until 1:15."
"We postponed the meeting until 1:15."

The meeting is moved to 12:30:

"We brought the meeting forward to 12:30."
"We advanced the meeting to 12:30."

I always used (and have seen used) 'moved up' (meeting that was 3:30 is now 1:30) and 'pushed back' (meeting that was 1:30 is now 3:30)

how does time move up?

it can move forward or bakwards, but ive never heard of it moving up.

why isnt time pushed back also named 'pushed down'?

You're like the gremlin on the airplane wing in that Twilight Zone movie sometimes, you know that?

this is how i read into too..........:thumbsup:

Just be happy no one used the term pushed in. That would've been an awkward debate.

Nerd.

Time doesn't move up, but meetings can be moved up...I believe this directional reference is from a typical day-planner style calendar, where an earlier meeting would be higher than a later one.

What is time?