Magnus Coleus wrote:Siresa Talesi wrote:Show me the dictionary that lists "targeting" as a noun.
DOD DoMT, Joint Education and Doctrine Division, J-7 wrote:
targeting (n.)
The process of selecting and prioritizing targets and matching the appropriate response to them, considering operational requirements and capabilities. See also joint targeting coordination board; target.
That's from the
DOD Dictionary of Military Terms (which anyone who's served in the US probably came across at some point). Authoritative and appropriate enough for ya? I can also show you military manuals with entire chapters dedicated to "the targeting of" various things. Wouldn't be surprised if there are even some parts about "multi-targeting" (which is really just a better-sounding abbreviation of "multiple targeting").
Maybe English isn't your first language, but no native speaker has any doubt that "targeting", "opening", or hundreds of other words ending in "ing" can be nouns. Heard of Shakespeare? He wrote "The Taming of the Shrew". I guess that illiterate oaf didn't know that "taming" isn't a noun...
Now please stop spamming about "bad grammer" (or at least learn to spell "grammar").
CCP admitted it sounded bad and changed the term about five pages ago, anyway.
Actually, I've served in the military enough to know that they are hardly any sort of authority on proper English. Some of the terms and phrases they come up with are downright ridiculous and would be laughed at by any high school English teacher. Besides, I've referenced the DOD Dictionary of Military Terms on multiple official military sites, and no copy I've seen includes the (n.) designation; so I can only assume that you added that yourself.
Include a reference from a respected and known English dictionary; Websters, Rogets, etc., someone whose business it actually is to set the standards of the English language.
I never claimed that words ending in "ing" couldn't be nouns, only that "targeting" specifically is a verb in the case in which it was used.
Again, CONTEXT, CONTEXT, CONTEXT!!! Context will always determine the form fo the word. In the skill names, the name "Multiple Targeting" was specifically given to describe the action of acquiring multiple targets; in this case there should be no question that the use of targeting here is a verb.