# I pit "service" as a verb **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 17, 2014, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-service-as-a-verb/679072 "2014-01-17T16:38:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2014, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-service-as-a-verb/679072/21 "2014-01-19T04:38:01Z")
“Process”, now that is a noun. Its use as a verb is just plain wrong. Whoever “processes” something should try to find the proper verb to describe the process involved. And processing people, well, that sounds all creepy soylenty. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2014, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-service-as-a-verb/679072/22 "2014-01-19T05:21:34Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Irregardless… And now I’m back to hating you. See how easy that was? No, I don’t hate you. I could care less about you. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2014, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-service-as-a-verb/679072/23 "2014-01-19T05:47:37Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > And now I’m back to hating you. See how easy that was? > > No, I don’t hate you. I could care less about you. 😉 How much less? ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2014, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-service-as-a-verb/679072/24 "2014-01-19T05:50:07Z")
> [@j666](#): > > The long, powerful train plunging into the willing station … “service” fits that usage just fine. Does the long powerful train disgorge a teeming mass into the station? ---
**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:** [January 19, 2014, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-service-as-a-verb/679072/25 "2014-01-19T06:48:23Z")
Verbing weirds language. But it also embiggens it. Personally I look down on anyone who uses the word eyes. The correct word is eyen. ---
**Author:** ![usedtobe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ec9cab/32.png) [@usedtobe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usedtobe)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2014, 7:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-service-as-a-verb/679072/26 "2014-01-19T07:53:34Z")
I once worked with a young woman who had the annoying habit of adding a syllable to words - as if using a “bigger” word was a sign of … whatever … I generally ignored it until she was describing a new restaurant: “…and if they don’t service you in 5 minutes, your lunch is free!”\* I suppressed a giggle and explained what “service” means when applied to a living creature (bulls and cows, kept it simple). She was annoyed. Hell, if you want to make an ass of yourself, next time I’ll call you on in front of the whole office. “Service” is NOT a fancy way of saying “serve”. - - I will never shake the image of a waiter helping the customer to her feet, bending her over the table, and performing while yelling out “Tony! Get your ass out here - I’ve done the last 3 - next one’s yours!”. ---
**Author:** ![j666](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de0a6/32.png) [@j666](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j666)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2014, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-service-as-a-verb/679072/27 "2014-01-19T13:26:25Z")
> [@usedtobe](#): > > “Service” is NOT a fancy way of saying “serve”. And “utilize” is not a fancy way of saying “use”. > [@For You](#): > > Does the long powerful train disgorge a teeming mass into the station? \*- dirty little snicker - \* ---
**Author:** ![PlainJain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5daacb/32.png) [@PlainJain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlainJain)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2014, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-service-as-a-verb/679072/28 "2014-01-19T14:19:50Z")
I just love dumbasses that think language is static. Language changes and evolves. All of your pedantic inspired whining won’t stop it. Lord help us if you and Annie-Xmas get together. The pit thread that would result… Well, I just don’t think I could bear it. ---
**Author:** ![Ruken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f475e1/32.png) [@Ruken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruken)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2014, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-service-as-a-verb/679072/29 "2014-01-19T14:24:49Z")
It’s always cute when people who know fuck-all about language and how it works get upset about established usage that is older than they are. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2014, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-service-as-a-verb/679072/30 "2014-01-19T18:00:41Z")
> [@usedtobe](#): > > - > - I will never shake the image of a waiter helping the customer to her feet, bending her over the table, and performing while yelling out “Tony! Get your ass out here - I’ve done the last 3 - next one’s yours!”. Must have been the [_Cantore_.](http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/digital-shorts/video/le-cantore-restaurant/1353738/) ---
**Author:** ![Deleted\_Internet\_History](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dc4da7/32.png) [@Deleted\_Internet\_History](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Deleted_Internet_History)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2014, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-service-as-a-verb/679072/31 "2014-01-20T15:30:18Z")
I think it’s hilarious when one of my coworkers talks about “servicing the customer,” and how when he’s the customer, he expects to be serviced! o.0 ---
**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:** [January 20, 2014, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-service-as-a-verb/679072/32 "2014-01-20T16:40:18Z")
> [@For You](#): > > “Process”, now that is a noun. Its use as a verb is just plain wrong. Whoever “processes” something should try to find the proper verb to describe the process involved. And processing people, well, that sounds all creepy soylenty. But its use as a verb is pretty well established. It occurs in legal documents dating from the 1530’s. And its use as both a noun and verb can be traced back from English, through French, and into Latin. ---
**Author:** ![j666](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de0a6/32.png) [@j666](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j666)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2014, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-service-as-a-verb/679072/33 "2014-01-20T23:21:54Z")
“Process” is a nice general term; it can mean mix, heat, mold, stretch … you could not write a flexible procedure or regulation with a term like “process”. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2014, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-service-as-a-verb/679072/34 "2014-01-20T23:35:59Z")
> [@Deleted\_Internet\_History](#): > > I think it’s hilarious when one of my coworkers talks about “servicing the customer,” If you worked in a help desk that would make sense, because many “customer service” departments do mainly exist to “service” the customer. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2014, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-service-as-a-verb/679072/35 "2014-01-20T23:50:27Z")
> [@lance\_strongarm](#): > > And you also don’t seem to know that using “service” as a verb has strong sexual and prostitution connotations. My old boss, who has the sense of humor of an 11-year-old boy, was highly amused when Purchasing renamed themselves the Procurement Department. ---
**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2014, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-service-as-a-verb/679072/36 "2014-01-21T01:49:22Z")
Customer service: We’re not satisfied until _you’re_ not satisfied! ---
**Author:** ![lance\_strongarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/87869e/32.png) [@lance\_strongarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lance_strongarm)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2014, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-service-as-a-verb/679072/37 "2014-01-21T14:18:43Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > “Gifting” and “giving” don’t mean exactly the same thing, though (plus its use as a verb dates back to the 16th century, so you’re a bit late.) What’s the difference in today’s use? (I haven’t looked it up, but I bet the word “gift” was used as a verb and then that became “give” when it was pronounced differently when connected with the suffix -ing.) ---
**Author:** ![lance\_strongarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/87869e/32.png) [@lance\_strongarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lance_strongarm)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2014, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-service-as-a-verb/679072/38 "2014-01-21T14:21:00Z")
> [@Ruken](#): > > It’s always cute when people who know fuck-all about language and how it works get upset about established usage that is older than they are. Like you’re doing right now. Look, this is language at work. People create the rules, then enforce them, then create new ones that break the old ones, etc. I know that. It’s okay with me. We can participate in that stupid, annoying, and essential process as much as they did 500 years ago. And I do know fuck-all about language, thanks. ---
**Author:** ![lance\_strongarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/87869e/32.png) [@lance\_strongarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lance_strongarm)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2014, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-service-as-a-verb/679072/39 "2014-01-21T14:25:03Z")
> [@PlainJain](#): > > I just love dumbasses that think language is static. Language changes and evolves. All of your pedantic inspired whining won’t stop it. > > Lord help us if you and Annie-Xmas get together. The pit thread that would result… Well, I just don’t think I could bear it. I didn’t say it was static, thanks. But have you ever complained about any use of words or grammar, EVER? If so, you’re doing the same thing. Do you teach your kids they can talk or write any way they please without even learning the “rules” because language “changes and evolves?” No, I doubt it. I hope you have kids, and I hope that next time you correct any their English they tell you you’re a “pedantic whiner.” If they know what those words mean. Maybe they’ll call you a stupid asshole instead, and if you complain, they’ll say “language evolves.” ---
**Author:** ![lance\_strongarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/87869e/32.png) [@lance\_strongarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lance_strongarm)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2014, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-service-as-a-verb/679072/40 "2014-01-21T14:28:23Z")
> [@Revtim](#): > > Ah, I love these pit threads, where someone pits the usage of word they don’t like, claiming it to be incorrect, then inevitably it’s shown to be a common usage for over a hundred years. > > They next steps are usually the following: > > 1. OP claims the dictionary is just throwing a bone to common yet incorrect usage > 2. It is pointed out that there is no real correct or incorrect usage, and the dictionary merely describes usage. > 3. the OP ignores 2), and/or repeats 1) in some manner, then abandons the thread. You forgot a couple of steps: - someone like you comes along and adds the standard “but it’s been used that way for centuries so it’s okay” - someone else comes along and says “language evolves, get over it” Yeah, we know both of those (somewhat contradictory) points. Thanks for nothing. Must we always go through this nonsense on every post about language [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-service-as-a-verb/679072.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-service-as-a-verb/679072.md?page=3)