June 2011 - Non-relevant versus Non-significant

A vocabulary problem, in English only.

This paper, written by two French people, deals with something we feel as a problem of
vocabulary.

Depending on the documents in use, these two terms may be used as synonyms, or with different meanings, when talking about indications.

We are in the opinion that:

• Non-relevant means an indication that is within the criteria for acceptance. It is not
necessary to record it.

• Non-significant means an indication which cannot be related to a discontinuity; it may be due to a poor washing (PT), to a sharp radius or to materials with different magnetic permeabilities (MT).

We would like to receive comments from our English-speaking readers on this point.