[Alamo-Girl]

Thank you so much for your post! Indeed, even in common usage, words such as "set" can have several meanings.

However, in a debate - it baffles me when a participant uses one word in a technical sense, but another in a common sense. I would expect more consistency. Also, it is troubling to me when a participant uses the same word alternately - technical then common.

[Doctor Stochastic]

Well, I'll try to be straight about which sense I mean to use a word. I never try to mislead (although I do try to inject didactic humor at times.)

Scientific discussion should be at bit on the pedantic side, of course, just to avoid the problems you mention.