[Brian_K_White]

45 year engineer, not 45 year old engineer. It's not about their age but their experience.

The relevance is that someone spent 45 years, as a trained adult engineer no less, not 45 years merely breathing, aware of a problem and only after than much experience, solved it.

It would also be interesting if they had been a 1 year engineer or not an engineer at all, just for different reasons.

[chrispeel]

In what part of the world is it typical to say "45 year engineer"? I'm an engineer in the western US, and would say "an engineer with 45 years of experience". I interact with lotsa international english; this one is new

[renewiltord]

I have definitely seen that before. In any case, despite the website being owned by an American, the language is not common American English:

> He is enjoying his sauna 4-6 times a week. Instead of watching the “idiot TV”, Malcolm has spent his evening watching his thermal meters in his hot room.

One would not use the present continuous tense in that context as much as in that sentence.

[Brian_K_White]

The words are the words. No one else can help the fact that you interpret words that weren't either written or implied.

A 10 year smoker may or may not also be a 10 year old smoker, but probably not.

A 6 month project may or may not also be a 6 month old project. Etc etc.

[OJFord]

Fwiw it didn't read naturally to me either. I suppose I'd say 'an engineer of [or 'for'] 45 years'. Or 'Malcolm, 45 years an engineer, [...]'.

[2-718-281-828]

what kind of engineer? software engineer? ;D

[djmips]

No a real engineer.

[2-718-281-828]

you're tryin to make friends? i'd be a little careful around here

[djmips]

I'm not to worried. ;-) My friends don't have ego problems.

[2-718-281-828]

dude, I'm just trying to help you

[djmips]

dude, thanks.