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Ad hoc is a Latin phrase meaning "for this". In English, it generally signifies a solution designed for a specific problem or task, non-generalizable, and not intended to be able to be adapted to other purposes (compare with a priori.

Common examples are ad hoc organizations, committees, and commissions created at the national or international level for a specific task. In other fields, the term could refer, for example, to a military unit created under special circumstances, a tailor-made suit, a handcrafted network protocol, or a purpose-specific equation.

Ad hoc can also mean makeshift solutions, shifting contexts to create new meanings, inadequate planning, or improvised events.

Styling

According to The Chicago Manual of Style, familiar Latin phrases that are listed in Merriam-Webster, such as "ad hoc", should not be italicized.^[1]^[2]

Ad hoc hypothesis

In science and philosophy, ad hoc means the addition of extraneous hypotheses to a theory to save it from being falsified. Ad hoc hypotheses compensate for anomalies not anticipated by the theory in its unmodified form.

Scientists are often skeptical of scientific theories that rely on frequent, unsupported adjustments to sustain them. Ad hoc hypotheses are often characteristic of pseudoscientific subjects such as homeopathy.^[3]

Ad hoc in the military

In the military, ad hoc units are created during unpredictable situations, when the cooperation between different units is suddenly needed for fast action.

Ad hoc networking

The term ad hoc networking typically refers to a system of network elements that combine to form a network requiring little or no planning.

References

^ http://grammarpartyblog.com/2012/02/23/when-to-italicize-foreign-words-and-phrases/
^ http://www.economist.com/style-guide/italics
^ Carroll, Robert T. (23 February 2012), "Ad hoc hypothesis", The Skeptic's Dictionary, John Wiley & Sons, retrieved 27 May 2013

External links

The dictionary definition of ad hoc at Wiktionary

[1] ttp://grammarpartyblog.com/2012/02/23/when-to-italicize-foreign-words-and-phrases/

[2] ttp://www.economist.com/style-guide/italics

[3] Carroll, Robert T. (23 February 2012), "Ad hoc hypothesis", The Skeptic's Dictionary, John Wiley & Sons, retrieved 27 May 2013

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 {{About|the Latin phrase}}
-'''Ad hoc''' is a [[List of Latin phrases|Latin Phrase]] meaning "for this". It generally signifies a solution designed for a specific problem or task, non-generalizable, and not intended to be able to be adapted to other purposes. Common examples are organizations, committees, and commissions created at the national or international level for a specific task. In other fields, the term may refer, for example, to a military unit created under special circumstances, a tailor-made suit, a handcrafted [[network protocol]], or a purpose-specific [[equation]]. ''Ad hoc'' can also mean makeshift solutions, shifting contexts to create new meanings, inadequate planning, or improvised events.
+'''Ad hoc''' is a [[List of Latin phrases|Latin phrase]] meaning "for this". In English, it generally signifies a solution designed for a specific problem or task, non-generalizable, and not intended to be able to be adapted to other purposes (compare with [[A priori and a posteriori|a priori]].
+Common examples are ad hoc organizations, committees, and commissions created at the national or international level for a specific task. In other fields, the term could refer, for example, to a military unit created under special circumstances, a tailor-made suit, a handcrafted [[network protocol]], or a purpose-specific [[equation]].
+Ad hoc can also mean makeshift solutions, shifting contexts to create new meanings, inadequate planning, or improvised events.
+==Styling==
 According to ''[[The Chicago Manual of Style]]'', familiar Latin phrases that are listed in ''[[Webster's Dictionary|Merriam-Webster]]'', such as "ad hoc", should not be italicized.<ref>http://grammarpartyblog.com/2012/02/23/when-to-italicize-foreign-words-and-phrases/</ref><ref>http://www.economist.com/style-guide/italics</ref>
 ==Ad hoc hypothesis==
 {{Main|Ad hoc hypothesis}}
-In [[science]] and [[philosophy]], ''ad hoc'' means the addition of extraneous [[hypothesis|hypotheses]] to a [[theory]] to save it from being [[falsified]]. Ad hoc hypotheses compensate for anomalies not anticipated by the theory in its unmodified form. Scientists are often [[Scientific skepticism|skeptical]] of theories that rely on frequent, unsupported adjustments to sustain them. Ad hoc hypotheses are often characteristic of [[pseudoscientific]] subjects such as homeopathy.<ref>{{citation |last=Carroll |first=Robert T. |title=Ad hoc hypothesis |work=[[The Skeptic's Dictionary]]|publisher=[[John Wiley & Sons]]|date=23 February 2012|accessdate=27 May 2013 |url=http://skepdic.com/adhoc.html}}</ref>
+In [[science]] and [[philosophy]], ad hoc means the addition of extraneous [[hypothesis|hypotheses]] to a [[theory]] to save it from being [[falsified]]. Ad hoc hypotheses compensate for anomalies not anticipated by the theory in its unmodified form.
-==Ad hoc military==
-In military, ''ad hoc'' units are created during unpredictable situations, when the cooperation between different units is needed for fast action.
+Scientists are often [[Scientific skepticism|skeptical]] of [[scientific theories]] that rely on frequent, unsupported adjustments to sustain them. Ad hoc hypotheses are often characteristic of [[pseudoscientific]] subjects such as homeopathy.<ref>{{citation |last=Carroll |first=Robert T. |title=Ad hoc hypothesis |work=[[The Skeptic's Dictionary]]|publisher=[[John Wiley & Sons]]|date=23 February 2012|accessdate=27 May 2013 |url=http://skepdic.com/adhoc.html}}</ref>
+==Ad hoc in the military==
-'''
+In the military, ad hoc units are created during unpredictable situations, when the cooperation between different units is suddenly needed for fast action.
 ==Ad hoc networking==
 {{main|Wireless ad hoc network}}
-The term ''ad hoc networking'' typically refers to a system of network elements that combine to form a network requiring little or no planning.
+The term ad hoc networking typically refers to a system of network elements that combine to form a network requiring little or no planning.
 ==See also==