Date: Mon, 8 Apr 2002 13:52:47 +0200 From: Rahul Siddharthan <rsidd@online.fr> To: Terry Lambert <tlambert2@mindspring.com> Cc: Mark Murray <mark@grondar.za>, freebsd-chat@FreeBSD.ORG Subject: Re: Use/Utilize Message-ID: <20020408135247.F85215@lpt.ens.fr> In-Reply-To: <3CB1805B.D5E56F08@mindspring.com>; from tlambert2@mindspring.com on Mon, Apr 08, 2002 at 04:34:51AM -0700 References: <3CAEE006.F36598B1@mindspring.com> <200204061202.g36C2aPL036777@grimreaper.grondar.org> <20020408112409.A90467@lpt.ens.fr> <3CB1646C.9DF12B4F@mindspring.com> <20020408114703.C85215@lpt.ens.fr> <3CB1805B.D5E56F08@mindspring.com>
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Terry Lambert said on Apr 8, 2002 at 04:34:51: > Rahul Siddharthan wrote: > > As you wish... The definition of "utilize" here is > > To make useful; to turn to profitable account or use; to make use of; > > as, to utilize the whole power of a machine; to utilize one's > > opportunities. > > > > The relevant definition of "use" is > > 1. To make use of; to convert to one's service; to avail one's self > > of; to employ; to put a purpose; as, to use a plow; to use a chair; to > > use time; to use flour for food; to use water for irrigation. > > > > So tell us again, why is "using software" different from "utilizing > > software"? Why does one imply using the source code and the other > > imply using it as an application -- in fact I've forgotten now, which > > is supposed to be which? > > Because: > > o That dictionary has 4 definitions for the transitive verb > "use" and 1 definition for the transitive verb "utilize", > so you are ignoring the other 3 definitions Because they don't apply to the phrase "using software". > o That dictionary also has 2 definitions for the intransitive > verb "use" and 9 definitions for the noun "use", which you > also ignore. Because they don't apply to the phrase "using software". > o The word "use" is not employed as an intransitive verb in > all cases of which I speak, and therefore you can not > replace it with the word "utilize" and have the same > meaning. Because these cases don't apply to the phrase "using software". > Basically, there is only one of 15 definitions of "use" which match > the definition of "utilize". And this is the only one which applies to the phrase "using software". > Thus you have a 7% chance of having > the one which is "synonymous", for any given random example. We don't use this phrase randomly. "Using software" does not mean "wearing out software" or "taking unfair advantage of software" or any of the other 14 definitions. - Rahul To Unsubscribe: send mail to majordomo@FreeBSD.org with "unsubscribe freebsd-chat" in the body of the message
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