Monday, July 30, 2007

Corporate words I hate

Today's word: Critical

If you assumed the true meaning of the word critical every time it was used in the corporate world, there would be either dead guys in suits all over the damn place or we'd all have extra limbs due to nuclear fallout. Critical should refer either:

--to a person at risk of death due to illness or injury: After I hit him over the head with my laptop for using a word incorrectly, he was in critical condition

or

--to having enough fissionable matter to sustain a reaction

It also can refer to a person who criticizes: I am critical of those who misuse words. Depending on your dictionary, you may or may not get a definition that's somewhat close to what the man in the suit is trying to say, but it really isn't the right word. If it's critical that we get this report done by Friday, we're in hella trouble.

Seriously folks, the word you are looking for is crucial. Crucial refers to an extremely important decision or result. Again folks, please take care of our words. It's the only thing that really separates us from the animals.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Am I the only one who thinks it's funny that this sentence contains a misspelled (and perhaps misused) word?

"After I hit him over the head with my laptop for using a world incorrectly, he was in critical condition"

Justin said...

I hate you.

Anonymous said...

HAH. Don't hate me for my incredible grasp of grammar and spelling. Thank me for being one of the few and proud who read your webpage!