TechWhirl (TECHWR-L) is a resource for technical writing and technical communications professionals of all experience levels and in all industries to share their experiences and acquire information.
For two decades, technical communicators have turned to TechWhirl to ask and answer questions about the always-changing world of technical communications, such as tools, skills, career paths, methodologies, and emerging industries. The TechWhirl Archives and magazine, created for, by and about technical writers, offer a wealth of knowledge to everyone with an interest in any aspect of technical communications.
Subject:Re: Most annoying word From:doc -at- edwordsmith -dot- com To:techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com Date:Tue, 28 Feb 2006 20:43:48 -0800
I once was a writer in a lab where we had procedures for verifying the
transcribed data from calibrated instruments. The admirable word 'accuracy'
has cachet in such a setting, and I went in search of a verb form to use when
meaning to increase accuracy in transcribing data. But, what verb form?
Accuratize came to mind as an example of a word I would not like to use.
Accuracy is a glorious word, whereas accuratize seems to be to words what an
ingrown hair is to complexion. Accuratize sounds chaotic to me, richoceting
around the throat and mouth like a tin can being kicked to the kerb.
Anyway, I submitted my ruminations in a question to the editors at Merriam
Webster, asking for any insights into the legitimacy and options in the
practice of verbing. In a few days time, I got back a very nice email in
which the editor thanked me for my question, commended my interest, and
offered a small raft of alternate words I might use. In their final analysis,
'accuratize' was the only candidate verb form of accurate, the others being
even more awkward. Accuratify? Sounds like the votes will be counted
carefully.
Regards,
Ned Bedinger
doc -at- edwordsmith -dot- com
On Tuesday 28 February 2006 07:51, Fred Ridder wrote:
> American English has a fairly long tradition of nounifying verbs and
> verbifying nouns. Or should I say "nounizing" and "verbizing" to
> double the annoyance points?
>
> Fred Ridder
>
> >I'dd add to this any noun to which -ize has been added to turn it into a
> >verb. Sometimes it is an actual word, but quite often it isn't. You just
> >can't go around making up words, it's just wrong!
> >
> >Suzette Leeming
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
WebWorks ePublisher Pro for Word features support for every major Help
format plus PDF, HTML and more. Flexible, precise, and efficient content
delivery. Try it today!. http://www.webworks.com/techwr-l
