Re: Use v. utilize (was Re: Simple Verbiage Question)

[Mark Dempsey <mxd2 -at- OSI -dot- COM>]

Chris,

Clearly you are not being paid by the word. A much better sentence would
be:

"In order to utilize our strategic documentation plans, we plan to
empower upper management with the ability to terminate individuals with
extreme prejudice."

Now there's a sentence into which one can sink his incisors. Perhaps you
should spend more time on the documentation plantation...

Chris Kowalchuk wrote:
>
> I shouldn't, but I can't help it...
>
> I think "utilize" is a silly, Dilbertish word used by insecure persons
> who think that a word so short and simple as "use" couldn't possibly be
> important enough to figure in their self-agrandizing prose. Such persons
> also frequently use military metaphors to lend an aura of decision and
> excitement to their otherwise mind-numbingly dull business activities.
> e.g:
> "Our strategic plan is to utilize a total quality approach to increased
> profits through staff reduction."
>
> We know the writer is smart and well organized because he used the words
> "strategic plan" and "utilize". We don't necessarily learn anything else
> from the sentence. As for any other differences in nuance between "use"
> and "utilize", I remain unconvinced.
>
> Sceptically yours,
>
> Chris Kowalchuk
>
>