Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If your primary purpose in speaking to someone is to convey something that you would like them to understand, then you have to adjust your speech to their vocabulary level, otherwise it becomes impractical. If your primary purpose is to show off, then you can use whatever words you wish. Using one or two unusual words in a conversation can be fun and educational. But if the words are consistently going over the head of the other person, don't expect that person to want to talk to you very often.

I can live with that.

Word snob.

Meh. Now, if you had called me "pretentious" or "affected", I might have cried.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If your primary purpose in speaking to someone is to convey something that you would like them to understand, then you have to adjust your speech to their vocabulary level, otherwise it becomes impractical. If your primary purpose is to show off, then you can use whatever words you wish. Using one or two unusual words in a conversation can be fun and educational. But if the words are consistently going over the head of the other person, don't expect that person to want to talk to you very often.

I can live with that.

I gathered that. You sound like a very sesquipedalian individual.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If your primary purpose in speaking to someone is to convey something that you would like them to understand, then you have to adjust your speech to their vocabulary level, otherwise it becomes impractical. If your primary purpose is to show off, then you can use whatever words you wish. Using one or two unusual words in a conversation can be fun and educational. But if the words are consistently going over the head of the other person, don't expect that person to want to talk to you very often.

I can live with that.

Word snob.

Anonymous wrote:If your primary purpose in speaking to someone is to convey something that you would like them to understand, then you have to adjust your speech to their vocabulary level, otherwise it becomes impractical. If your primary purpose is to show off, then you can use whatever words you wish. Using one or two unusual words in a conversation can be fun and educational. But if the words are consistently going over the head of the other person, don't expect that person to want to talk to you very often.

I can live with that.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If it's a lawyer I don't think anything, assuming the word is slightly more precise or descriptive. That person isn't showing off. The word is just what comes to mind.

If someone uses utilize where use is appropriate, I think they are trying to create an impression, which backfires.

Same with colloquial expressions.

Use and utilize have two different meanings, although the latter (that means the second of two concepts (concepts are sort of like ideas)) is frequently (this means often) employed (this means put to work) incorrectly (this means not the right way). In general, utilize means to use something in a manner different from that item's original purpose.

Wrong.

Where is you wiki-cite? The wiki world may find the nuances not worth the time but T.A.R. Cheney agrees with me and I am all good with that: http://users.wpi.edu/~nab/sci_eng/99_Apr_22.html

If your primary purpose in speaking to someone is to convey something that you would like them to understand, then you have to adjust your speech to their vocabulary level, otherwise it becomes impractical. If your primary purpose is to show off, then you can use whatever words you wish. Using one or two unusual words in a conversation can be fun and educational. But if the words are consistently going over the head of the other person, don't expect that person to want to talk to you very often.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What's that word somewhere here uses ? Squee? Swee? I forgot now, it means overly sweet. Unnecessary.

Speaking as a lawyer, we use too many big words for no good reason. It's pretty much our job.

It's not for no reason if you're good at it.

I should have been more precise for you annoying lawyer types. We use too many big words for no good reason.... when speaking to people in casual conversation.

My vocabulary is what it is. I'm not going to talk down to other people by excluding "big" words.

That's just laziness, really. I see no need to use a 75 cent word when a 25 cent word will do just as well. They haven't been to law school so it is best to realize that when speaking to most people.

That's just imprecision. It's not usually the case that the "bigger" word doesn't do a better job.

What exactly does one consider a complicated, unnecessary word? Wouldn't that depends on one's education and verbal style? Doesn't the word obtuse sound better than just saying dumb? As long as a word is used correctly, why shouldn't one use it unless it is offensive?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If it's a lawyer I don't think anything, assuming the word is slightly more precise or descriptive. That person isn't showing off. The word is just what comes to mind.

If someone uses utilize where use is appropriate, I think they are trying to create an impression, which backfires.

Same with colloquial expressions.

Use and utilize have two different meanings, although the latter (that means the second of two concepts (concepts are sort of like ideas)) is frequently (this means often) employed (this means put to work) incorrectly (this means not the right way). In general, utilize means to use something in a manner different from that item's original purpose.

Wrong.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If it's a lawyer I don't think anything, assuming the word is slightly more precise or descriptive. That person isn't showing off. The word is just what comes to mind.

If someone uses utilize where use is appropriate, I think they are trying to create an impression, which backfires.

Same with colloquial expressions.

Use and utilize have two different meanings, although the latter (that means the second of two concepts (concepts are sort of like ideas)) is frequently (this means often) employed (this means put to work) incorrectly (this means not the right way). In general, utilize means to use something in a manner different from that item's original purpose.

When I use a 75 cent word, it is because it is the word that means exactly the thing that I am trying to say. If my 5-year-old doesn't know what it means, he asks!

Anonymous wrote:Fortuitously, I don't spend a copious amount of time with non-erudite people.

Seriously, is that the best you can do? Jk.

Fortuitously, I don't spend a copious amount of time with non-erudite people.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What's that word somewhere here uses ? Squee? Swee? I forgot now, it means overly sweet. Unnecessary.

Speaking as a lawyer, we use too many big words for no good reason. It's pretty much our job.

It's not for no reason if you're good at it.

I should have been more precise for you annoying lawyer types. We use too many big words for no good reason.... when speaking to people in casual conversation.

My vocabulary is what it is. I'm not going to talk down to other people by excluding "big" words.

That's just laziness, really. I see no need to use a 75 cent word when a 25 cent word will do just as well. They haven't been to law school so it is best to realize that when speaking to most people.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What's that word somewhere here uses ? Squee? Swee? I forgot now, it means overly sweet. Unnecessary.

Speaking as a lawyer, we use too many big words for no good reason. It's pretty much our job.

It's not for no reason if you're good at it.

I should have been more precise for you annoying lawyer types. We use too many big words for no good reason.... when speaking to people in casual conversation.

My vocabulary is what it is. I'm not going to talk down to other people by excluding "big" words.