# A noun that means "things you should do" **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 10, 2012, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-noun-that-means-things-you-should-do/631116 "2012-08-10T19:23:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2012, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-noun-that-means-things-you-should-do/631116/41 "2012-08-11T13:50:42Z")
I suggested recommendations. I’m following the recommended diet. I’m taking these recommendations to heart. ---
**Author:** ![GreenElf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de053/32.png) [@GreenElf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreenElf)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2012, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-noun-that-means-things-you-should-do/631116/42 "2012-08-11T14:16:03Z")
to-do list ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2012, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-noun-that-means-things-you-should-do/631116/43 "2012-08-11T14:27:30Z")
> [@echo7tango](#): > > It seems we need a word somewhere “above” **desirable** and “below” **obligatory**. > > What’s wrong with **optimal**? In this particular case, the main thing wrong with it is that it is an adjective. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![FuzzyOgre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@FuzzyOgre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FuzzyOgre)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2012, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-noun-that-means-things-you-should-do/631116/44 "2012-08-11T15:13:35Z")
Abrogations? Things that you do away with, especially with or by authority. ---
**Author:** ![GreenElf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de053/32.png) [@GreenElf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreenElf)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2012, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-noun-that-means-things-you-should-do/631116/45 "2012-08-12T04:41:48Z")
objectives precepts mandates imperatives ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2012, 7:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-noun-that-means-things-you-should-do/631116/46 "2012-08-12T07:02:55Z")
It’s almost one pseudo-word now, but what about “common sense”? ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2012, 7:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-noun-that-means-things-you-should-do/631116/47 "2012-08-12T07:09:50Z")
Aspirations is the word that popped into my mind. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2012, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-noun-that-means-things-you-should-do/631116/48 "2012-08-13T04:25:14Z")
> [@KneadToKnow](#): > > In this particular case, the main thing wrong with it is that it is an adjective. 🙂 Just in case the noun form escapes you, it would be optimum. But it would still sound weird. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2012, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-noun-that-means-things-you-should-do/631116/49 "2012-08-13T04:39:43Z")
It’s easy to say in Esperanto: _Farindaĵoj_ = “things that are worthy of doing” _Farendaĵoj_ = “things that are required to be done” _Farotaĵoj_ = “things that will be done” 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2012, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-noun-that-means-things-you-should-do/631116/50 "2012-08-13T05:34:12Z")
“Good ideas.” “Salutory acts.” ---
**Author:** ![FuzzyOgre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@FuzzyOgre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FuzzyOgre)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2012, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-noun-that-means-things-you-should-do/631116/51 "2012-08-13T05:43:17Z")
> [@Sunspace](#): > > It’s easy to say in Esperanto: > > _Farindaĵoj_ = “things that are worthy of doing” > _Farendaĵoj_ = “things that are required to be done” > _Farotaĵoj_ = “things that will be done” > > 🙂 Can you recommend me a good Esperanto book? I’ve always wanted to learn, and I like books. They are a nice alternative to staring at an LCD monitor all day. ---
**Author:** ![Olentzero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/90ced4/32.png) [@Olentzero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Olentzero)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2012, 7:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-noun-that-means-things-you-should-do/631116/52 "2012-08-13T07:48:02Z")
> [@FuzzyOgre](#): > > Can you recommend me a good Esperanto book? I found [this one](http://www.esperanto-usa.org/retbutiko/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=140&products_id=5140) to be quite useful; the approach is great for people who haven’t studied other languages and there are only about 15 lessons overall. ETA: Pick up a good [dictionary](http://esperanto-usa.org/retbutiko/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=20_220&products_id=3110) while you’re at it. ---
**Author:** ![Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maggie_the_Ocelot)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2012, 8:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-noun-that-means-things-you-should-do/631116/53 "2012-08-13T08:00:48Z")
Seconding “Best Practices”. ---
**Author:** ![FuzzyOgre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@FuzzyOgre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FuzzyOgre)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2012, 9:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-noun-that-means-things-you-should-do/631116/54 "2012-08-13T09:21:54Z")
> [@Olentzero](#): > > I found [this one](http://www.esperanto-usa.org/retbutiko/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=140&products_id=5140) to be quite useful; the approach is great for people who haven’t studied other languages and there are only about 15 lessons overall. > > ETA: Pick up a good [dictionary](http://esperanto-usa.org/retbutiko/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=20_220&products_id=3110) while you’re at it. Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![RadicalPi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/radicalpi/32/9806_2.png) [@RadicalPi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RadicalPi)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2012, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-noun-that-means-things-you-should-do/631116/55 "2012-08-18T23:54:02Z")
> [@echo7tango](#): > > It seems we need a word somewhere “above” **desirable** and “below” **obligatory**. > > What’s wrong with **optimal**? Yeah, the problem with _optimal_ is that it’s not a noun, but of course _optimum_ is. Is the plural _optimums_ or can it be _optima_? But thanks to everyone’s answers. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2012, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-noun-that-means-things-you-should-do/631116/56 "2012-08-19T00:16:03Z")
Virtues. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-noun-that-means-things-you-should-do/631116.md?page=2)