Armchair Linguists: 'code' vs. 'codes'--or why I write 'code' and my manager asks for 'codes'

Question

I wanted to tap into the collective wisdom here to see if I can get some insight into one of my pet peeves, people who treat "code" as a countable noun. Let me also preface this by saying that I am not talking about anyone who speaks english as a second language, this is a native phenomenon.

For those of us who slept through grammar class there are two classes of nouns which basically refer to things that are countable and non-countable (sometimes referred to as count and noncount). For instance 'sand' is a non-count noun and 'apple' is count. You can talk about "two apples" but "two sands" does not parse.

The bright students then would point out a word like "beer" where is looks like this is violated. Beer as a substance is certainly a non-count noun, but I can ask for "two beers" without offending the grammar police. The reason is that there are actually two words tied up in that one utterance, Definition #1 is a yummy golden substance and Definition #2 is a colloquial term for a container of said substance. #1 is non-count and #2 is countable.

This gets to my problem with "codes" as a countable noun. In my mind the code that we programmers write is non-count, "I wrote some code today." When used in the plural like "Have you got the codes" I can only assume that you are asking if I have the cryptographically significant numbers for launching a missile or the like.

Every time my peer in marketing asks about when we will have the new codes ready I have a vision of rooms of code breakers going over the latest Enigma coded message. I corrected the usage in all the documents I am asked to review, but then I noticed that our customer was also using the word "codes" when they meant "code".

At this point I have realized that there is a significant sub-population that uses "codes" and they seem to be impervious to what I see as the dominant "correct" usage. This is the part I want some help on, has anyone else noticed this phenomenon? Do you know what group it is associated with, old Fortran programmer perhaps? Is it a regionalism?

I have become quick to change my terms when I notice a customer's usage, but it would be nice to know if I am sending a proposal somewhere what style they expect. I would hate to get canned with a review of "Ha, these guy's must be morons they don't even know 'code' is plural!"

Answer 1

... or the invalid use of 'tape' for recording on a DVR (ad infinitum)?

We can discuss this until we are blue in the face but that is not necessary. Please use CORRECT English, use it as your opportunity to inform the unknowing about their incorrectness, but do it like you would like it done for you.

Answer 2

I agree with you fully... this is a serious issue. One program, two programs; but code is code. Code never are code. Codes never are codes.

Answer 3

I noticed this phenomenon with the phrase "I have a doubt" (which translates to "I have a question about") mostly occuring from Indian programmers.

Answer 4

FWIW, I have never heard ANYONE even remotely connected with software development (never mind developers themselves) use "codes" outside of either cryptography or encodings (as in, a table of "zip codes").

Answer 5

I've started noticing people using "a software" when I would use "a program" or "a piece of software".

Is this the same group of people?

Answer 6

We use jargon each day. Our industry creates new nouns and verbs all the time. Arguing grammar in a highly fluid grammatical enviroment is in my opinion a waste of time. Besides, english is a living, growing and changing language. Just like electronics it changes fairly rapidly enough that most rules can be argued to be obsolete in cetain circumstances all the time.

Answer 7

not met anyone who does this however i can say this is the most winningest question ever. Personally I think its just sheer ignorance and an inability for peopel to go out and find out how they should be saying what they want to say.

Answer 8

Don't get me started on grammar that grates on the ear. Currently I'm getting bugged when everybody talks about changing "a criteria" for a PM acceptance. Talk about plural effusion! (Pun intended.)

Then there's the all too familiar "The [noun] was intended for he and I" ... Ouch!

Answer 9

In my experience as an engineering student, I found a significant (if anecdotal) correlation between use of "codes" and scientific/engineering programmers. That is to say, this construction seems primarily to be used by those whose main training is in a scientific or engineering field, but who then found themselves programming in the course of their research or occupation.

Hence "FEA codes," "linear algebra codes," etc.

Edit: also hence the FORTRAN correlation.

Answer 10

I work with databases. The jargon there is that 'data' is a (non-countable) mass noun - like gold. Hence, 'the data is corrupted', not 'the data are corrupted'. Officially, 'data' is a countable (and plural) noun; one datum, two data. However, 'datum' has different connotations (of an immovable reference point), and 'two data' is just weird in the database world. I conclude that there are two homonyms - different words spelled the same way. And it may well be that dictionaries have not yet caught up with the difference.

I've never heard anyone call a collection of programs 'the codes'. It is someone's rather odd interpretation of (ab)normal usage.

Answer 11

When people say "codes" talking about a body of programming source, then I immediately assume they are either Spanish or Indian or Japanese or from some other country where English isn't the first language. Using "codes" like that is like saying, "bring me a glass of waters!"

As others have pointed out, there are legitimate uses for the plural: Building codes, for example, or rocket launch codes. But those are for different kinds of codes. Code in the programming world is like water or sand or interstellar space.