Discussion Groups / English Usage / January 2007

I have an electrical device with two outputs A and B. (It does not matter
what this device is, and I don't want to blind you with science). I have
been given the task of calculating the change of accuracy of output A when
electrical loads are connected to both A and B. Output A is the focus of my
interest, because that is the output to which I must apply my calculations.
But B is relevant to what I am calculating.

I need to find a snappy, one-word label to describe output A, the focus of
my attention in the calculation. Also, I need a corresponding one-word label
for B; the opposite, converse or inverse of A, I'm not sure which.

1.  I cannot call A the "Main" output, because the words "Main" and "Check"
are already in use, with their own allocated meanings.

2.  A similar problem with "Principal", because the words "Principal" and
"Subsidiary" are already in use, with their own allocated meanings.

3.  I cannot use the word "Relevant", because that would force me to use
"Irrelevant" to describe output B. Output B is not "irrelevant" to the
calculation, because electrical loads applied to output B do have an effect
on the output of A, and this is included in my calculation. The use of
"Relevant" and "Irrelevant" would therefore be an incorrect and misleading
description.

4.  I thought of "Apposite" and "Associated" as a possibility. My joy at
finding an appropriate word lasted only as long as it took me to look up and
check "apposite" in the dictionary. It will not do.

However, I think that "apposite" and "associated" are getting close to the
word combination I am looking for. Especially "associated". Do you have any
suggestions for such a word-pair?

Richard Chambers        Leeds   UK.