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Post by Pete on Mar 21, 2009 8:04:54 GMT
Is there a difference in meaning (apart from nuances of bombast, of course).
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Post by Dave on Mar 21, 2009 17:15:49 GMT
Is there a difference in meaning (apart from nuances of bombast, of course). wouldn't be used (utilized?) for the noun form or the intransitive verb form of use. You can read all the entries in your dictionary for use and conclude that many aren't a good choice for direct substitution. The SYN section of my Webster's reads: utilize implies the putting of something to a practical or profitable use [to utilize byproducts ]. |
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Post by Paul Doherty on Mar 31, 2009 1:29:37 GMT
I feel to utilise is to use something not designed for the purpose: I utilised three old coke cans in the making of my rocket.
Use is more neutral: I feared I would have to utilise a bedsheet to escape from the building, but I found an old rope I could use instead.
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Post by Pete on Mar 31, 2009 8:01:25 GMT
Paul, I see this is a useful distinction. But is this a 'rule' or just a personal preference?
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Post by Paul Doherty on Mar 31, 2009 10:51:23 GMT
It's not a personal preference (in the sense that I didn't make it up) so I must have read it somewhere, and it seems to chime with how a lot of people use it. The usage note in the American Heritage Dictionary (via Dictionary.com) says A number of critics have remarked that utilize is an unnecessary substitute for use. It is true that many occurrences of utilize could be replaced by use with no loss to anything but pretentiousness, for example, in sentences such as They utilized questionable methods in their analysis or We hope that many commuters will continue to utilize mass transit after the bridge has reopened. But utilize can mean "to find a profitable or practical use for." Thus the sentence The teachers were unable to use the new computers might mean only that the teachers were unable to operate the computers, whereas The teachers were unable to utilize the new computers suggests that the teachers could not find ways to employ the computers in instruction. |
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Post by Pete on Mar 31, 2009 12:01:09 GMT
It's not a personal preference (in the sense that I didn't make it up) so I must have read it somewhere, and it seems to chime with how a lot of people use it. The usage note in the American Heritage Dictionary (via Dictionary.com) says A number of critics have remarked that utilize is an unnecessary substitute for use. It is true that many occurrences of utilize could be replaced by use with no loss to anything but pretentiousness, for example, in sentences such as They utilized questionable methods in their analysis or We hope that many commuters will continue to utilize mass transit after the bridge has reopened. But utilize can mean "to find a profitable or practical use for." Thus the sentence The teachers were unable to use the new computers might mean only that the teachers were unable to operate the computers, whereas The teachers were unable to utilize the new computers suggests that the teachers could not find ways to employ the computers in instruction. Paul, very interesting, thank you. I see the example you give here as being subtly different in emphasis from your first example. But I get the picture. |
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Post by Paul Doherty on Mar 31, 2009 13:45:51 GMT
Yes, I agree, Pete, different emphasis. Not one I'd care to assert "right" or "wrong" about (as if). Subtle stuff.
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