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Subject:RE: QUERY: Substitute for "leverage" From:"Thomas Quine" <quinet -at- home -dot- com> To:"TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com> Date:Mon, 8 Jan 2001 09:41:18 -0800
Leverage in the sense you use it is clearly jargon, and a good example of a
noun slipping into use as a verb.
Literally, leverage is the mechanical advantage one gains through the use of
a lever.
Used figuratively, the word can be useful to describe a number of
situations. For instance, using borrowed funds as "leverage" to buy out a
company is called a "leveraged buyout", which I consider a good descriptive
term. (As an aside, I see the borrowed funds as the fulcrum rather than the
lever...)
I can understand the MOS's objection to using leverage as a verb, but I
don't think the substitution of "use" always conveys the full meaning
intended through the use of the word leverage, so I'm guessing that
eventually, saying something like "leveraging the common knowledge of
millions of site visitors..." will become commonly accepted.
When using marketing jargon, one always runs the risk of annoying a
percentage of the readership - but that never seems to slow the marketers
up, does it?
- Thom
www.documen.com
-----Original Message-----
From: bounce-techwr-l-20657 -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com
[mailto:bounce-techwr-l-20657 -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com] On Behalf Of Trevor Booth
Sent: January 8, 2001 9:10 AM
To: TECHWR-L
Subject: QUERY: Substitute for "leverage"
All:
The Microsoft Manual of Style for Technical Publications says to replace the
word "leverage" with "use": does anyone have any experience using this term?
Is it acceptable to substitute "use"/"using" for "leverage"/"leveraging"
in all situations (i.e., situations other than producing software
documentation)? Here is the sentence:
In the knowledge era, the XXXX will achieve market leadership by leveraging
collective knowledge to creat value.
My thanks for your assistance.
T.B. Booth
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