LANGUAGE CORNER
A Readers' Potpourri
Far-Flung Correspondence
After a few e-mail exchanges, Jane Greer of Bismarck, N.D., who "commits public relations for a major Midwestern ad agency," but only after "what seemed to be a lifetime in state government," sent along a hefty collection of things that get under her skin, and should. A sampling:
Facilitate
Winston Churchill said, "Short words are best and the old words when short are best of all." I don't go through a day without hearing "facilitate." What in the world does it mean? "Help"? "Lead"? "Coordinate"? "Troubleshoot"? Say what you mean.
Implement
This word has dozens of subtly different meanings that generally stand for either "start" or "accomplish," but we all "implement." Why?
In a Timely Manner
If you mean "quickly," say so. If you mean "in plenty of time," "before the deadline," or "before it's too late," say that.
Interface
An interface, among other things, is the connection between a computer program and its user. Non-techies have come to use it as a verb meaning "talk with each other." I don't get it.
Share
You're welcome to share your inheritance with me, but not your feelings. This word is used without thought by folks to mean they're going to tell me something. Don't try to make me feel warm and fuzzy. Just tell me what you want to tell me.
Terminate
If you're going to fire me, fire me. Don't make it sound better than it is — don't let me go, as if I'd begged for it. And don't terminate me, unless you plan on hiring a goon to do it.
