Stop utilising this word

Hey there,

I don’t know why I’ve been tasked with updating the finance strategy one pager for our business.

Maybe it’s because I’m good with words (simplifying).

I've also become a geek at slide creation.

But when I teamed up with the head of FP&A to write the content

and he started to sprinkle in the word ‘utilize’ my already tested patience levels snapped.

_{*He’s a good guy to be fair, but he’s already not taken my advice on a running training plan so he’s several points down in my estimations before we’d started.}

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Misuse of the word ‘utilise’ when the word ‘use’ exists has frankly been one of the most unnecessarily painful parts of my corporate career to date.

It’s born from the misconception that lengthening and latinising the word ‘use’ by adding a suffix makes you sound smarter.

It doesn’t.

Now before I go too technical, a word of education here

_{(both my parents being English/ History teachers has been a factor in my precision with words and in that regard I recognise my privilege)}

The words ‘use’ and ‘utilize’ do have subtle differences in meaning.

The word ‘use’ generally implies employing something for its intended purpose.

For example you might say “I use a pen to write”

as this is the pen’s primary function.

On the other hand “utilize” conveys the idea of employing something for a purpose other than its original intent, or in a way that’s more practical or efficient.

For instance, you might say “I utilized a paperclip to unlock the door”.

The distinction between ‘use’ and ‘utilize’ can be particularly relevant in technical or scientific writing, where precision is crucial.

ICYMI

My best Linkedin post of the week:

• The mental health impacts of non-compliance

But here’s why it sucks to use the word ‘utilize’ in corporate documents

as though it will somehow make you sound more strategic and clever.

There’s three important strikes to it in my view.

The first is its ending: words with the -ise or ize (American English) suffix tend to be annoying full stop (we’ll pause for anyone who wants to hate on incentivise for a moment).

Secondly its length: clocking in at a whole two syllables longer than its plain-Jane synonym use, utilise is frankly pretentious.

Third…and here’s the big one.

I’ve rarely seen the word utilise correctly used (not utilised) within a corporate document.

What was the use (utilisation) of making a whole Wednesday rant about this?

Let’s just say I’m tired

Tired of deliberate complication in a world where simplicity would get us to where we need to be…

so much faster.

Tom

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