Discussion Forum—A Way with Words, a fun radio show and podcast about language

UTILIZE
A caller gave a definition of "utilize" something like this: employing an object for something it wasn't designed for, as a dime in lieu of a screwdriver. No, I thought, "utilize" is simply a stilted substitute for "use." But Martha said something like, "I'm looking in the dictionary and it agrees with you." Good, I thought, I was wrong and am about to learn something. But the definition that she read did not resemble at all the caller's definition! I know that you want to be polite to your callers, but saying that the dictionary agrees when it doesn't agree merely encouraged the caller to go out and set up his website that will repeat that phony distinction.

While Hemingway and I have always liked to cling the Chicago Manual of Style as gospel, I have to say that I feel the time has come to admit that the World Wide Web has gone beyond brand name and has been intergrated into the language as a common noun.

No matter how many equalizers would like us to use "hook and loop tape" rather than Velcro or "adhesive bandages" instead of Band-Aids it remains that brands with longstanding monopolies can and do change the language and are managing to do it at an alarming rate in the information age.

We no longer capitalize crock pot or trampoline and both started out as brand names in the past 50-75 years.

I do agree with Grant that the use of "web" is destined to die... The concept is a bit precious. At 25, the use of the phrase "world wide web" seems stilted--I say net more often than not--

It's interesting to me that in typical notation of web addresses (in advertising etc) has already dropped the "www."

Will enjoy watching it evolve...

Viv