Even if you don’t respect the language, at least have some respect for yourself.
Don’t ever use this word.
Leave a Reply
Trackback URL
http://www.patrickemclean.com/2010/07/dont-ever-use-this-word/trackback/
What happened to “The English language is being ruined by texting shortcuts?”
Uh, just ignore the question mark on the wrong side of quotation marks.
What about ‘Expansiveness’ and ‘Extensiveness’? Is this the beginnings of a manifesto against tacking ‘-ness’ onto adjectives to create nouns? If so, I would like to receive your pamphlet.
Expensiveness, expansiveness and extensiveness all have perfectly roots that work just as well: ‘Expense’ (although I’d use ‘cost’ in the above list), ‘expanse’ and ‘extent’. In most cases, there’s no reason not to use the original, shorter words. Longer word are harder to scan. Why make it harder for the reader than necessary?
May I rant about ‘utilize’? ‘Use’ is a perfectly good word. ‘Utilize’ means ‘use for purpose for which it wasn’t designed.’ I’ve seen ‘utilize’ utilized too often lately.
Rant away, we are singing from the same hymnal (or, perhaps, playing from the same leg violin)
Expensiveness, expensiveness etc all have the same problem. it’s not that you CAN’T do it. It’s that it’s almost always better to write use, expense and expanse.
I would also say, that if you want to truly exaggerate the extent (extensiveness?) of an expanse you are better off writing ‘expansivenesslessiosity’ than ‘expansiveness’
As far as your definition of utilize goes, I haven’t encountered that. But it is derived in English from the French verb utiliser. On general principles I avoid the fancy words that come from French.
“On general principles I avoid the fancy words that come from French.”
Hence your moniker of “raconteur” above?
I kid…’cause I love.
Been a fan since the original podcast days. Many thanks for many a laugh!