Misuse and Changing Words
Jun 19, 2023 06:56:20 #
For some reason, people think it's necessary to make changes where making a change results in less precise communication.
Phone number: (209) 482-8516 - as opposed to 209.482.8516. The first string of numbers is obviously a phone number. The last string could be anything. That makes communication less precise.
Writing a software program used to be called "programming." Now, it's called "coding." If you work in the coding department of the military, I doubt you would be writing software. "Writing code" suggests you are writing a way to send a secret message, not programming a game.
There are lots of other examples, but I'm not going to list anymore. Although, I will comment on the unnecessary practice of swapping nouns for verbs, as in "quote" rather than "quotation," "mix" instead of "mixture," and many more.
Not really related is the practice of substituting "image" for photograph," which has twice as many letters and another syllable. "Photo" never really seemed to catch on as a "professional" term.
Phone number: (209) 482-8516 - as opposed to 209.482.8516. The first string of numbers is obviously a phone number. The last string could be anything. That makes communication less precise.
Writing a software program used to be called "programming." Now, it's called "coding." If you work in the coding department of the military, I doubt you would be writing software. "Writing code" suggests you are writing a way to send a secret message, not programming a game.
There are lots of other examples, but I'm not going to list anymore. Although, I will comment on the unnecessary practice of swapping nouns for verbs, as in "quote" rather than "quotation," "mix" instead of "mixture," and many more.
Not really related is the practice of substituting "image" for photograph," which has twice as many letters and another syllable. "Photo" never really seemed to catch on as a "professional" term.
Jun 19, 2023 07:05:05 #
Yep Jerry, right on the money!!! Years ago Mechanical Design magiazine had a humor article on words for government reports. "Fuzzy Fraze" list saying that every sentence needed at least one confusing meaningless word from Governmentese word list.
In automotive parts design work, to make final... became finalize... then the process became finalization.
In automotive parts design work, to make final... became finalize... then the process became finalization.
Jun 19, 2023 07:09:08 #
My sister-in-law, (a technical writer), always grimaced when she saw nouns used as verbs or infinitives, such as when an ad for a new program for secretaries was promoted as the "new way to office". Recently, keyboarding students have been taught NOT to double-space after a period. (To save paper? time?) My latest peeve is when I seem to see everywhere using the word "gift" as a verb. (For his birthday, she "gifted" him some cologne.) What ever happened to, "...she gave him some cologne."??
Jun 19, 2023 07:13:53 #
dpullum wrote:
Yep Jerry, right on the money!!! Years ago Mechanical Design magiazine had a humor article on words for government reports. "Fuzzy Fraze" list saying that every sentence needed at least one confusing meaningless word from Governmentese word list.
In automotive parts design work, to make final... became finalize... then the process became finalization.
In automotive parts design work, to make final... became finalize... then the process became finalization.
I posted about a gas station sign last week: "Clean Restroom." No - you clean it! : ) Newspaper headlines are just as bad. Leaving out essential words leads to confusion.
Jun 19, 2023 07:15:58 #
ELNikkor wrote:
My sister-in-law, (a technical writer), always gri... (show quote)
I still put two spaces after a period, but this site reduces it to one. My complaint is that most of these changes make communication less precise.
Click Like to help me grow this channel."
Jun 19, 2023 07:43:55 #
ELNikkor wrote:
The double space was used to assist in reading when letters of the alphabet each took up the same amount of space on a printed page. The change, with additional font choices, came more than 20 years ago.... Recently, keyboarding students have been taught NOT to double-space after a period...
There is some interesting trivia related, including "In the April 2020 update, Microsoft Word started highlighting two spaces after a period as an error and offered a correction of one space."
Jun 19, 2023 07:45:31 #
As far as I can tell, many modern word processing programs only put one space after a period.
As to the problem of less precision, I think it is a common problem in most places. Where I live folks do not like precise instructions for doing something. They like to come back later (when they aren't doing something as per instructions) and say, "I am not sure that's how you wanted it done". Bottom line; they like less precision, as a way to avoid responsibility.
As to the problem of less precision, I think it is a common problem in most places. Where I live folks do not like precise instructions for doing something. They like to come back later (when they aren't doing something as per instructions) and say, "I am not sure that's how you wanted it done". Bottom line; they like less precision, as a way to avoid responsibility.
Jun 19, 2023 07:50:18 #
Jerry, I hear the misuse of "trending" during every baseball game I watch on tv. Or should I write, on television 
The weather is trending, the player's attitude is trending, on and on.
The weather is trending, the player's attitude is trending, on and on.
Jun 19, 2023 07:56:41 #
One of the basic flaws of the English language is that if it has become common usage, it then becomes 'correct' usage. An example is the word preventive. That is the original correct usage. But so many began using the word 'preventative' that now dictionaries show both pronunciations as correct.
Jun 19, 2023 08:17:29 #
BrianFlaherty
Loc: Wilseyville, CA
"English" is the most MISUNDERSTOOD language in the world; and, the reason is fairly simple. It has about a MILLION words; and, the number of words keeps growing each year. Words do NOT even mean the same in English-speaking countries; or, regions within countries . . .such as "states" or, geographical areas within states; or, locales that border each other; and, overlap state borders. And, who the hell understands or can keep of all the "structural rules" for spelling and/or grammatical constructs? Such as "i" before "e;" etc ad infinitum. . .<smile>. And, "over-abundant" use of "emojis" and "initials" such as LOL, IMHO, etc and et al.
I was, for over 20 years, in the Courts, a "forensic consultant and investigator" relative to defective buildings; methods of construction; and, injuries relative to these defects. During one case (While being cross-examined by an opposing attorney) I kept responding to a number of specific questions with "I don't know." The attorney said: "You're not much of an expert if you cannot answer these "simple" questions!" The attorney asked the judge to have me "dismissed" as an "expert" for the Plaintiff. The judge, responded from the Bench: "Please answer Mr Jones' questions; or, I WILL have to dismiss ALL your testimony!" My reply was "I would be happy to answer the questions if I could UNDERSTAND what he was asking. For instance in that last question, I believe there are 6 or 7 definitions in Webster's Dictionary. And, Mr Jones is using Definition Numbers 3 OR 5; neither of which is pertinent to this issue. If he could clarify for me WHICH definition HE is using that IS pertinent to the issues related to THIS case, I would answer HIS question." The judge asked Mr jones to "be more specific as Mr Flaherty has requested." Mr Jones then replied to the Judge "Is Mr Flaherty claiming NOW to also be an expert on the English language?" And, proceeded to "examine" me on issues related to English language rules and word usage (ie: grammar and syntax). To further his questioning, he produced a copy of Webster's Dictionary and asked me questions about words as he read them from said Dictionary. I interrupted his questioning by asking the Judge "Which Edition is he reading from; and, would he specifically indicate the humber of the definitions which Webster has noted under each word. And, which "Number" of those definitions he wants me to respond to." The Judge allowed the man to question me for almost a half hour in this fashion , with the Jury loving every minute of this "back & forth" between the Attorney and the Witness [Better than "Perry Mason" on TV in what had been, up to then, a rather boring trial] I finally thought I'd put an end to this "irrelevant repartee;" and, try to get the trial back to the issues of the case. I suggested to the Judge that "this was NOT Mr Jones' fault that we had gone "off track from the main issues of the case, because Mr Jones suffered from a particular "condition," generally specific to Attorneys: "He could NOT count to TEN without taking off his shoes!' Hence, it affected his overall Thought Processes!" The Judge took MY statement and informed the Jury (for the record) "that Mr Flaherty probably knows more about the English Language than ALL of us in this courtroom put together; and, has demonstrated that he IS an "expert" on the English Language; and, the case will proceed as he has suggested!" And, he smiled; the Jury was in stitches; and, poor Mr Jones was "looking for a hole to crawl into!" From that point on, I was allowed to "re-phrase" EVERY one of Mr Jones' questions; and, answer "appropriately" for MY client's case. Needless to say, my client received a VERY "positive outcome" from the Jury (but, I "said" it anyway! <smile>).
==============
Footnotes: #1. .I was called (privately) into the Judge's Chambers; and, told "Do NOT ever pull a stunt like that ever again! Or, I will cite you for "Contempt of Court!" #2. .The Judge told me: "I have been watching Mr Jones take apart witnesses for over 20 years; and, THAT was the first time I ever saw him handed HIS butt on a silver platter!" #3. . Six months later, Mr Jones called me; and, asked me to represent HIS "Defendant Client" in a similar matter. I reviewed the facts of the case; and, suggested that his client SHOULD "settle the case" and, I was retained to assist in the Settlement Negotiations. . .The case was settled "satisfactorily" to BOTH parties!
============
Did you note all the grammatical and syntactical "rules" that were employed to facilitate "communication" and "understanding" in the above narrative? <smile>
I was, for over 20 years, in the Courts, a "forensic consultant and investigator" relative to defective buildings; methods of construction; and, injuries relative to these defects. During one case (While being cross-examined by an opposing attorney) I kept responding to a number of specific questions with "I don't know." The attorney said: "You're not much of an expert if you cannot answer these "simple" questions!" The attorney asked the judge to have me "dismissed" as an "expert" for the Plaintiff. The judge, responded from the Bench: "Please answer Mr Jones' questions; or, I WILL have to dismiss ALL your testimony!" My reply was "I would be happy to answer the questions if I could UNDERSTAND what he was asking. For instance in that last question, I believe there are 6 or 7 definitions in Webster's Dictionary. And, Mr Jones is using Definition Numbers 3 OR 5; neither of which is pertinent to this issue. If he could clarify for me WHICH definition HE is using that IS pertinent to the issues related to THIS case, I would answer HIS question." The judge asked Mr jones to "be more specific as Mr Flaherty has requested." Mr Jones then replied to the Judge "Is Mr Flaherty claiming NOW to also be an expert on the English language?" And, proceeded to "examine" me on issues related to English language rules and word usage (ie: grammar and syntax). To further his questioning, he produced a copy of Webster's Dictionary and asked me questions about words as he read them from said Dictionary. I interrupted his questioning by asking the Judge "Which Edition is he reading from; and, would he specifically indicate the humber of the definitions which Webster has noted under each word. And, which "Number" of those definitions he wants me to respond to." The Judge allowed the man to question me for almost a half hour in this fashion , with the Jury loving every minute of this "back & forth" between the Attorney and the Witness [Better than "Perry Mason" on TV in what had been, up to then, a rather boring trial] I finally thought I'd put an end to this "irrelevant repartee;" and, try to get the trial back to the issues of the case. I suggested to the Judge that "this was NOT Mr Jones' fault that we had gone "off track from the main issues of the case, because Mr Jones suffered from a particular "condition," generally specific to Attorneys: "He could NOT count to TEN without taking off his shoes!' Hence, it affected his overall Thought Processes!" The Judge took MY statement and informed the Jury (for the record) "that Mr Flaherty probably knows more about the English Language than ALL of us in this courtroom put together; and, has demonstrated that he IS an "expert" on the English Language; and, the case will proceed as he has suggested!" And, he smiled; the Jury was in stitches; and, poor Mr Jones was "looking for a hole to crawl into!" From that point on, I was allowed to "re-phrase" EVERY one of Mr Jones' questions; and, answer "appropriately" for MY client's case. Needless to say, my client received a VERY "positive outcome" from the Jury (but, I "said" it anyway! <smile>).
==============
Footnotes: #1. .I was called (privately) into the Judge's Chambers; and, told "Do NOT ever pull a stunt like that ever again! Or, I will cite you for "Contempt of Court!" #2. .The Judge told me: "I have been watching Mr Jones take apart witnesses for over 20 years; and, THAT was the first time I ever saw him handed HIS butt on a silver platter!" #3. . Six months later, Mr Jones called me; and, asked me to represent HIS "Defendant Client" in a similar matter. I reviewed the facts of the case; and, suggested that his client SHOULD "settle the case" and, I was retained to assist in the Settlement Negotiations. . .The case was settled "satisfactorily" to BOTH parties!
============
Did you note all the grammatical and syntactical "rules" that were employed to facilitate "communication" and "understanding" in the above narrative? <smile>
Jun 19, 2023 08:29:04 #
RiJoRi
Loc: Sandy Ridge, NC
jerryc41 wrote:
… Phone number: (209) 482-8516 - as opposed to 209.482.8516. The first string of numbers is obviously a phone number. The last string could be anything. That makes communication less precise.
… Phone number: (209) 482-8516 - as opposed to 209.482.8516. The first string of numbers is obviously a phone number. The last string could be anything. That makes communication less precise.
Look at ye olde IBM keyboard. The numeric keypad does not have parentheses on it, but it does have a decimal point. If you are "keying in" a series of phone numbers, hitting the d.p. is a tinier bit faster than Shift+9 and Shift+10. So maybe…
jerryc41 wrote:
Writing a software program used to be called "programming." Now, it's called "coding." If you work in the coding department of the military, I doubt you would be writing software. "Writing code" suggests you are writing a way to send a secret message, not programming a game.
Writing a software program used to be called "programming." Now, it's called "coding." If you work in the coding department of the military, I doubt you would be writing software. "Writing code" suggests you are writing a way to send a secret message, not programming a game.
Now that "programs" are called "apps", we should be greatful that it's not called "apping"!
"What happened to Joe?"
"He was caught apping on the job!" 😂
jerryc41 wrote:
There are lots of other examples, but I'm not going to list anymore. Although, I will comment on the unnecessary practice of swapping nouns for verbs, as in "quote" rather than "quotation," "mix" instead of "mixture," and many more.
There are lots of other examples, but I'm not going to list anymore. Although, I will comment on the unnecessary practice of swapping nouns for verbs, as in "quote" rather than "quotation," "mix" instead of "mixture," and many more.
Yeah. Verbizing nouns is horrific! But using a period to show it's an abbr. could fix it. "quot." and "mix." is more precise. 😁
--Rich
Jun 19, 2023 08:32:39 #
Linda From Maine wrote:
Jerry, I hear the misuse of "trending" during every baseball game I watch on tv. Or should I write, on television
The weather is trending, the player's attitude is trending, on and on.
The weather is trending, the player's attitude is trending, on and on.
I hate the word "trending" now.......
SO, so overused!
Jun 19, 2023 09:31:08 #
Linda From Maine wrote:
Jerry, I hear the misuse of "trending" during every baseball game I watch on tv. Or should I write, on television
The weather is trending, the player's attitude is trending, on and on.
The weather is trending, the player's attitude is trending, on and on.
Yes, there are many words that are overused - like "scenario." "Situation" would usually be a better choice. Another one I hear all the time is the woodworker who is going to "predrill a hole." That's like "preboarding a plane."
Jun 19, 2023 10:21:41 #
jerryc41 wrote:
I still put two spaces after a period, but this site reduces it to one. My complaint is that most of these changes make communication less precise.
Click Like to help me grow this channel."
Click Like to help me grow this channel."
The only reason for two spaces was for typesetting to get adequate space after the period. It also worked well for typewriters, but is no longer necessary with computerized equipment. If you'll notice here on UHH if you accidentally put two spaces between words, it will auotcorrect to one space. I still use two spaces most of the time out of habit. There is really nothing less precise about one space with computerized equipment. As an old English teacher, I am more concerned about things like eliminating the Oxford comma, which really can change the meaning of a statement.
The language, it changes. If it didn't we'd still be writing and speaking like Shakespeare or even Chaucer, perhaps.
Jun 19, 2023 10:35:48 #
Longshadow wrote:
Continuing with baseball, I liked "they put up a crooked number" for two instances. After that it sounded stupid I hate the word "trending" now.......
SO, so overused!
SO, so overused!
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