The reason it sounds less smart to me (make that just plain dumb) is because it sounds pompous. I get very tired of reading or hearing things that could have been said clearly and simply. I love words. The bigger the better. But to use a big word for the sake of using a big word is not more smart (smarter), it's an empty use of page space and sounds stupid to me. It diminishes the value of not only the word used (utilized?) but those surrounding it. Of course, it could just be that I'm in a crabby mood, but that's my opinion. Carol
-----Original Message----- From: Paul C. Smith [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Wed 11/19/2003 5:12 PM To: Teaching in the Psychological Sciences Cc: Subject: Re: Petting Write Peeves If the person using the word "utilize" were careful to use it only in those places calling for a word meaning "the discovery of a new, profitable, or practical use for something" as opposed to "availing oneself of something as a means or an instrument to an end", then I'd agree with you. But again, essentially every time I've heard the word "utilize" in recent years, it has been as a synonym for "use" with the goal of using a large fancy word where a simpler one is more appropriate. There's a huge difference between knowing a lot of words and knowing how to use a lot of words. John W. Nichols wrote: > I am a tad unclear about what criteria might lead to the conclusion that > "...writing "utilize" makes one sound less smart, not more smart, > and..." than writing "use". (Other than the fact that it takes me more > than twice as long to type.) Even if they were exact synonyms, that would be enough reason for me to think that writing "utilize" instead of "use" is a mark against the writer. The use (utilization? <lol>) of the word "utilize" usually is a sign that the writer believes that bigger fancier words are better than shorter ones, rather than a sign that the writer knows the difference between utilizing something and using it. Don't believe it? The next time you hear a person say "utilize", ask that person to explain the difference between "utilize" and "use". I doubt that the response you get will leave you impressed at the person's vocabulary. <grin> Paul Smith Alverno College Milwaukee > How is it that the person who can say the same thing 10 or 12 ways comes > off as less smart that the person who has only one word at his/her > disposal? (See: http://m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary , using > "use[2,verb]".) > > It was not too long ago that an expanded vocabulary was the mark of an > educated person. That was probably, however, before it was important to > avoid making the ignorant feel ignorant. > > The two are not necessarily, strictly speaking, exactly synonymous. > According to http://m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary : > synonyms USE, EMPLOY, UTILIZE mean to put into service especially to > attain an end. USE implies availing oneself of something as a means or > instrument to an end <willing to use any means to achieve her ends>. > EMPLOY suggests the use of a person or thing that is available but idle, > inactive, or disengaged <looking for better ways to employ their > skills>. UTILIZE may suggest the discovery of a new, profitable, or > practical use for something <an old wooden bucket utilized as a > planter>. > > > Obfuscate Proudly!! (I think I remember my old buddy Ben Franklin > saying something like that.) Endeavour to confuse the ignorant, > utilizing every means at your disposal - at every opportunity - least > they have little motivation to not remain ignorant! > > > Paul Smith wrote: > > > > I had a discussion in an upper-level course yesterday related to all of > > this, and I've got a couple of questions. I gave my "endeavour or try" > > example, and told students that if I saw that, I would recommend getting rid > > of "endeavour or" rather than "or try", and then I went on to say that if > > they find themselves writing "utilize", they should stop and use "use" > > instead. Fireworks erupted (which is a very good thing, of course...). > > > > Students had two reasons for continuing to say "utilize". One student > > said that if she were saying "He used X and she used Y and they used Z", it > > would sound "less redundant" to say "He used X and she utilized Y and they > > utilized Z". I think there's a common misconception there, that one should > > endeavour to utilize different words each time one says something, for > > variety. In my opinion, unless one means something different each time, one > > should use the same word each time. Right? > > > > Other students argued for using "utilize" because they said it made them > > sound more smart. I think that's an extremely common misconception among > > college students. In my opinion, writing "utilize" makes one sound less > > smart, not more smart, and in general using fancy words in the place of > > perfectly good day-to-day words is a mistake*. Right? It seems to me that > > when a student tries to sound smart by using big words, she shows that she > > doesn't understand that one sounds smart by making good arguments in well > > written papers. The "large words" method strikes me as a lazy "out". > > > > * Or "in general, using fancy vocabulary rather than utilizing perfectly > > adequate colloquial words is erroneous. Would you not agree?". > > > > Paul Smith > > Alverno College > > Milwaukee > > > > --- > > You are currently subscribed to tips as: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > -- > > ----------==========>>>>>>>>>> ¨¨¨ <<<<<<<<<<==========---------- > Sometimes you just have to try something, and see what happens. > > John W. Nichols, M.A. > Assistant Professor of Psychology > Tulsa Community College > 909 S. Boston Ave., Tulsa, OK 74119 > (918) 595-7134 > > Home: http://www.tulsa.oklahoma.net/~jnichols > MegaPsych: http://www.tulsa.oklahoma.net/~jnichols/megapsych.html > > --- > You are currently subscribed to tips as: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] > --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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