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Are you Utilizing it Correctly?


Captroop

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Okay, as a government contractor, I have to listen to the word, "utilize" used incorrectly literally dozens of times a day, and I just want to take a second to clear up how and when it should be used.

 

"Utilize" is NOT synonymous with "Use." You can't just throw it out because it's a fancier, more technical way to say "use." To "utilize" something means using it outside of its intended purpose. For example. You USE a chair when you sit in it a the table. You UTILIZE a chair to change a light bulb. You USE Microsoft word to create a text document, you UTILIZE Microsoft Word if you are using it as a graphic design program.

 

 

But feel free to use this thread to also post words or phrases that people frequently get wrong, and set folks straight on the proper usage.

 

Two more:

Loose vs. Lose.

"Comprised of." "Comprised" is not interchangeable with "Composed." The United States is "composed of" 50 states. And 50 states "comprise" the United States.

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Utilize just means to make use of something not previously being used for what you're using it for. It doesn't have to be outside of it's intended use.

You can utilize a chair to sit, provided that it isn't already being used by someone else for seating.

Source: the dictionary

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