So...

[ksmith]

...if over the course of, say, 4 or 5 books, the term "steering mechanism" evolved into "steering mech" which in turn morphed into "steer mech", would you notice? Would you still understand the term? Would the change over time bother you?

Comments

[fancythat2.livejournal.com]

Sorry. I used to watch Saturday afternoon westerns when I was a kid, hence the 'steer=castrated male bovine' association.

My vote would be to leave it as 'steering'.