Editing pet peeves

[eurydicebound]

"Utilize" this information wisely: I loathe the word "utilize." It has a far narrower scope of appropriate meaning than use and is about fifty times as pretentious. If the voice you're using is supposed to be that of a pretentious illiterate middle-management MBA with a penchant for bugging the hell out of his subordinates, then have at thee. If not, put a sock in it and just use "use."

Comments

[gammahamster.livejournal.com]

Weird. The people I've heard use 'utilize' most are hunters, referring to dressing and butchering a kill, as well as preserving the hide and antlers. 'Utilize the deer' is the usual form.

[anaka.livejournal.com]

And that's an appropriate use of the word. Basically it has a connotation of using something profitably and efficiently, which is why it's been co-opted by business... either that or they verbed the noun "utility," which doesn't bear considering. *shudder*