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Post by Geoff on Apr 25, 2011 4:50:50 GMT
I've just been watching a news report on TV and once again am forced to ask myself why today we oversight something whereas yesterday we would oversee (supervise or monitor) it. Does anyone else notice a change taking place?
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Post by Verbivore on Apr 25, 2011 5:21:51 GMT
Yes, Geoff, I do, and I fail to grasp any nuance between the two terms -- and, consequently, always replace oversight (as a verb) with oversee.
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Post by Pete on Apr 25, 2011 20:27:13 GMT
I have never come across oversight as a verb. I always thought it was a noun.
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Post by Twoddle on Apr 25, 2011 22:14:54 GMT
I have never come across oversight as a verb. I always thought it was a noun. Same here. Would someone who oversights be an oversighter? |
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Post by Dave on Apr 26, 2011 5:18:24 GMT
And there's overlook, look over, and look-see!
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Post by Alan Palmer on Apr 26, 2011 9:25:19 GMT
I have never come across oversight as a verb. I always thought it was a noun. Nor have I. A quick look through a number of online dictionaries all showed it as a noun with two possible meanings: Wiktionary, for instance, gives - An omission; something that is left out, missed or forgotten.
A small oversight at this stage can lead to big problems later.
- supervision or management
The bureaucracy was subject to government oversight.
The meanings are very similar to overlook, which is, of course, sometimes used as a verb. |
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Post by Tone on Apr 26, 2011 19:51:17 GMT
>I have never come across oversight as a verb.<
I'll almost agree with that, with the proviso "not in any sensible communication".
But I have, on rare occasion, seen it used as (semi-illiterate) American business jargon to mean "oversee" an activity.
Mourn the passing of the language! Clarity of meaning is moribund.
Tone
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Post by Twoddle on Apr 26, 2011 20:50:25 GMT
Clarity of meaning is moribund. Right on, Dude. |
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Post by Verbivore on Apr 27, 2011 1:56:40 GMT
Oversight as a verb is unfortunately far too common in Oz "business English". I have yet to encounter it used thus where oversee would not suffice. It's just business-lish. Let's hope it doesn't enter the mainstream.
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Post by Dave on Apr 27, 2011 14:40:59 GMT
Maybe it comes from sight being used as a verb--at least that one's in Webster's!
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Post by Deleted on May 9, 2011 10:52:13 GMT
This again is the fault of the media. Tv/ newspapers etc. Misusing the word or incorrectly using the word.
This unfortunately readers and viewers pick this up.
I remember years ago an advertisement for Frend soap liquid.
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Post by Kath on Jun 25, 2018 8:34:57 GMT
Unfortunately the head mistress at the school I work at , I am a science teacher, uses “oversight” frequently. Examples are “thanks to John for the overnighting of the students” , it makes me cringe. What can we do to stop this happening?
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Post by Verbivore on Jun 25, 2018 9:35:00 GMT
Unfortunately the head mistress at the school I work at , I am a science teacher, uses “oversight” frequently. Examples are “thanks to John for the overnighting of the students” , it makes me cringe. What can we do to stop this happening? Welcome, Kath. I think the best we can hope to do is to ignore it and refuse to endorse it or pass it on as a poor example. As for teacher John: What was he doing "overnighting" the students? One shudders to think what in the current climate – even media hysteria – of child sexual abuse. And if it was just a typo, then John wasn't oversighting; he was, I'm sure you'll agree, overseeing them. :-) |
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