Is Utilize an Unintelligent Word?

warwick.hoy · #1 08-06-2009, 07:52 PM

I know there's a lot of grammar buffs on these boards so I thought I'd present a case and see what the TB Grammar council has to say.

When I was taking English 101 the professor made clear his disdain for the word utilize. His reasoning was that utilize is usually used by some student who is trying to sound intelligent when in all actuality the word use is sufficient.

To this day I cringe when I read,...or here someone use the word utilize. So how about it?

KeithBMI · #2 08-06-2009, 07:58 PM

Sure whatever.

ugly_bassplayer · #3 08-06-2009, 08:00 PM

.........................

mike_v_s · #4 08-06-2009, 08:00 PM

Utilize? dumb.

Utilise? Super intelligent. Just ask Mark Latimour.

Mike

WickedPissah · #5 08-06-2009, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by warwick.hoy

I know there's a lot of grammar buffs on these boards so I thought I'd present a case and see what the TB Grammar council has to say.

When I was taking English 101 the professor made clear his disdain for the word utilize. His reasoning was that utilize is usually used by some student who is trying to sound intelligent when in all actuality the word use is sufficient.

To this day I cringe when I read,...or here someone use the word utilize. So how about it?

hover · #6 08-06-2009, 08:20 PM

"Is Utilize an Unintelligent Word?"

well, it's usually an uncapitalized word....

bongomania · #7 08-06-2009, 08:29 PM

Words themselves are inherently unintelligent, to the best of my knowledge.

As far as the word "utilize", I agree that too often it is used by people trying to sound smarter or deeper than they really are. But that's not the word's fault, such that its use (or utilization) should be disdained. If someone uses the word simply because it sounds best or flows best in their sentence, regardless of any pretensions to extra smartness, then there is nothing wrong with it.

The Lurker · #8 08-06-2009, 08:31 PM

Not unintelligent, but personally I think it's pretentious.

hover · #9 08-06-2009, 08:31 PM

I have shunned the word utilize in favor of the word "repurpose".

thobbinghotrod · #10 08-06-2009, 08:34 PM

The root word utility, means versatile, if I remember right.

Utilize would be, to put something that's versatile to work.

What word could take it's place?

(runs off to look up utility)

warwick.hoy · #11 08-06-2009, 08:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WickedPissah

Oops; that usually doesn't happen,...so much for proofreading.

Quote:

Originally Posted by hover

"Is Utilize an Unintelligent Word?"

well, it's usually an uncapitalized word....

I usually capitalize all the words (with the exception of words like for, and, to,...etc.) in the titles to my threads.

http://www.writersblock.ca/tips/monthtip/tipmar98.htm

thobbinghotrod · #12 08-06-2009, 08:39 PM

I'm back from the dictionary:

From Latin, the root is uti - to use.

To the OP, I like it, I'll keep using it.

MJ5150 · #13 08-06-2009, 08:56 PM

I know a guy who uses this word frequently. So much so that a few of my friends and I all snicker indiscreetly to each other everytime he says it. We think it makes the guy sound overly stupid.

-Mike

warwick.hoy · #14 08-06-2009, 09:06 PM

That's about what it is for me. More of an eye roll or a, "ha ha you used the word utilize". Most of the time I hear someone use it while publicly speaking (politicians,...journalists,...) and it just makes me think to myself,...why don't you just say use,...you aren't impressing anyone.

I try not to be a grammar Nazi and very rarely point out peoples mistakes,...most of the time out of fear that they aren't actually mistakes.

And Bongo,...I probably should have used the title,...Does Using the Word Utilize Make You Sound Unintelligent?

WalterBush · #15 08-06-2009, 09:09 PM

The utility of the word, "utilize" depends entirely on its utilization

I don't utilize "utilize" much, because it doesn't roll off the tongue or my keyboard well.

I'm also sure I could dig up a few professors who liked it, because it sounds better on their ears than the simpler "use."

It's part of a speech pattern or writing style. I don't see anything wrong with it, but then I don't see people using it so much it grates on my ears, like the word "gravitas" started to a few years back. Sounds more like your teacher's pet peeve, to me.

Joe Gress · #16 08-06-2009, 09:12 PM

Unintelligent? Nah.

Unneeded in most conversations? Yes.

fdeck · #17 08-06-2009, 09:25 PM

I once wrote a report for a project manager. He took my text and did a global search-and-replace, turning every instance of "use" into "utilize" while I stood there and watched. I LOL'd and made him change it back. This guy was also famous for generating mountains of ornamental documentation that nobody ever read.

ubado · #18 08-06-2009, 09:30 PM

"use" is to "utilize" as "unintelligent" is to: mindless, brainless, stupid, pointless ... such as, his idea of the use, of the word utilize.

Frankly, I find that he utilized the word "unintelligent" to sound intelligent.

Silly monkey ...

L-A · #19 08-06-2009, 09:52 PM

It would be right in most latin languages, but not in English it seems.

In french it's utiliser. J'utilise means I use.

hbarcat · #20 08-06-2009, 10:31 PM

Languages are rich for a reason.

The thesaurus entry for the word use:

Part of Speech: verb

Definition: work with; consume

Synonyms: accept, adopt, apply, avail oneself of, bestow, bring into play, bring to bear, capitalize, control, do with, draw on, employ, exercise, exert, exhaust, expend, exploit, find a use, govern, handle, make do with, make the most of, make use, manage, manipulate, operate, play on, ply, practice, press into service, put forth, put into action, put to use, put to work, regulate, relate, run, run through, set in motion, spend, take advantage of, turn to account, utilize, waste, wield, work

How boring it would be if all synonyms were outlawed by the grammar police and only the most simplistic of words were allowed.