In article , Chris Green
writes
Steve Walker wrote:
On 13/02/2021 01:22, williamwright wrote:
On 12/02/2021 14:46, Chris Green wrote:

Isn't a "pre prepared script" just a "prepared script"?


It reminds me of 'pre-ordered'.

I can accept pre-ordered.

One of my hobbies is model railways. I can order something and have it
delivered, even if I have to wait a short while for it to come back into
stock, but some items have unknown delivery dates that may be 6 months
or more away and may be pushed back and back (delays of a year or more
are not unknown). They may even be cancelled as not enough interest has
been shown to justify continuing with the design work required to
continue or just not enough to justify another production batch and so
they will never be delivered. Pre-ordered fits that sort of item - as if
it was an order, you'd expect it to be delivered at some point.

I still don't understand the difference between 'pre order' and
'order', when you order something it will take some time to get to
you. Thst time may be sort and predictable or long and unpredictable
but you're still ordering it.

Pre-order (if there is such a word) says to me something you do
*before* ordering, e.g. ask for a quote. It might be mandatory in
some situations (i.e. government departments) to go through a
'pre-order' process to select a supplier and decide who to order from.

Bit like buying a house "off plan". Are you buying a house and you don't
even know where it is going to be?
--
bert