[williamcotton]

"Man hours" is a great sounding phrase. It sounds way better than "person hours". "Person hours" just doesn't flow as well. People aren't going to write song lyrics with the phrase "person hours" in them.

How about an acronym, like "thips", totals hours in persons. Throw a poet a bone.

[kriro]

I consider "man hour" a terminus technicus and wouldn't change it personally. It's only an estimation tool and fine due to that but the term is problematic due to other reasons (mystical man month). If you feel like you offend someone I think "billable hours" is what fits best (might sound too much like a lawyer though). Person hour et al. sound pretty strange.

[marincounty]

I know you are joking, but the last thing this world needs in another acronym? If I was made a dictator in a fantasy world, all future suggested acronyms(related to computing) would have to be vetted by 12 well paid, top notch, Programmers. And only very few acronyms would be approved yearly--even the one that save time. I guess I'm just tired of so many acronyms? Or, maybe I'm just tired?

[robmcm]

How about work hours, programming hours, developer hours, or perhaps even just simply hours?

Could in theory be done by a really talented member of anothery species.

[yareally]

> Could in theory be done by a really talented member of anothery species

Not sure we'll reach the point of highly intelligent, tool making chimps and New Caledonian crows writing their own applications. "Murderable" (of crows) hours would lead to some humorous situations though.

[robmcm]

Obviously not programming, but perhaps the visual design [1] ;)

[1] http://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/animals/photos/12-artsy-ani...

[s73v3r]

"Hours" implies that it's all linear; that one task can't go until the previous is done. "Man Hours" indicates that it's the amount of time needed to complete the task, but isn't solely dependent on linear ordering