LANGUAGE CORNER
Utilize
After a few e-mail exchanges, Jane Greer of Bismarck, N.D., a poet, state employee and lifelong "word dog," sent along a hefty collection of things that get under her skin, and should. One of many:
Of all the bad habits American speakers and writers have, this one seems hardest to break. Too many people who should know better still write and say "utilize" in place of good old "use." The fancier word shouldn't be banned — one worthwhile definition is "to turn to profitable account or use" — but usually all people gain by using it is two syllables and the joy of feeling superior when in fact they sound ridiculous. ("Utilization" is even more abominable.) Let's not let our language make us look foolish. That's what car phones are for.
