# New Word: **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 8, 2001, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-word/64787 "2001-05-08T18:45:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Danalan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/76d3ee/32.png) [@Danalan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Danalan)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2001, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-word/64787/1 "2001-05-08T18:45:42Z")
So I’m reading this CV on the net, when he uses the word ‘Architected’ to decribe the solution he (designed) for a customer. Architect is a noun, without verb forms. I double-checked with [dictionary.com](http://dictionary.com), then sent off an Email to him, telling him that making up words to use in a CV is probably counter-productive. Then I got to thinking about it – maybe I’m just behind the times. So I searched for ‘architected’ on Yahoo. 12400 hits. Yikes! What do you think? Can we state that this is a new verb yet? When does it become a word by acclamation? ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2001, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-word/64787/2 "2001-05-09T00:20:57Z")
just because everyone jumps off an architected building… ---
**Author:** ![Gozu\_Tashoya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7993a0/32.png) [@Gozu\_Tashoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gozu_Tashoya)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2001, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-word/64787/3 "2001-05-09T00:44:28Z")
Logistically, I suppose one can say it’s a new word when the majority of people you talk to will know what you’re talking about. Like the transformation of “Columbine” into a verb. Technically, I suppose it doesn’t exist until it’s in a respected dictionary (and I sure as heck wouldn’t use it on a CV)… ---
**Author:** ![Totoro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/65b543/32.png) [@Totoro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Totoro)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2001, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-word/64787/4 "2001-05-09T00:52:43Z")
Verbing Weirds Language. ---
**Author:** ![JeffB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeffb/32/188_2.png) [@JeffB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JeffB)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2001, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-word/64787/5 "2001-05-09T01:39:24Z")
Hate to break it to you, **Danalan** , but the OED has _architect_ as a verb. In fact, their first cite from 1818 uses “architected.” Although it’s not a terribly common usage, it does have its place. Given the number of hits you find on the web, it may make it’s way into smaller dictionaries eventually, though it may remain as jargon. Just wondering, why would you email someone to criticize their CV on the web? Were they asking for input? ---
**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2001, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-word/64787/6 "2001-05-09T02:13:19Z")
Bullshit words like that -whether they are genuine or coined- just make the text needlessly chewy & gives the impression of pomposity. Simplicity is a virtue when writing. Why could the word _built_, _designed_ or _planned_ not have been used just as effectively? ---
**Author:** ![Danalan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/76d3ee/32.png) [@Danalan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Danalan)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2001, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-word/64787/7 "2001-05-09T04:21:17Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by JeffB \* > \*\*Just wondering, why would you email someone to criticize their CV on the web? Were they asking for input? \*\* The CV was part of the brag on the companies website (Our Expert Staff). I did apologize – started my Email with ‘Sorry, but someone has to stop the madness:’ But I also felt like busting their balls. The companies site was just so full of BS. It even had the typical mission statement, so PC and unreal. ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2001, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-word/64787/8 "2001-05-09T06:15:56Z")
Sorry, but what the hell is a CV? ---
**Author:** ![SPOOFE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@SPOOFE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SPOOFE)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2001, 7:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-word/64787/9 "2001-05-09T07:37:32Z")
Isn’t that totally spam? ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2001, 9:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-word/64787/10 "2001-05-09T09:03:23Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Omniscient \* > \*\*Sorry, but what the hell is a CV? \*\* _Curiculum Vitae_(sp?) - a Resume. ---
**Author:** ![Bill\_H](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a5b964/32.png) [@Bill\_H](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bill_H)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2001, 9:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-word/64787/11 "2001-05-09T09:55:42Z")
Don’t mean to be harsh, but **anybody** who read that resume with the intent of hiring (i.e. someone familiar with his job responsibilities) would know immediately what “architected” meant and probably uses it regularly in their vocabulary. **Attrayant** wrote > [@](#): > > Why could the word _built, designed or planned_ not have been used just as effectively? Well, this gets close to splitting hairs, but my use of the word “architected” doesn’t mean what any of those words mean, although it’s close. build: construct something design: decide on functionality of something plan: could mean schedule, plan design, plan build, or other. much broader word architect: design the inner workings (or architecture) of something ---
**Author:** ![Danalan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/76d3ee/32.png) [@Danalan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Danalan)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2001, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-word/64787/12 "2001-05-09T18:19:07Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by SPOOFE \* > \*\*Isn’t that totally spam? \*\* Isn’t _what_ spam? Sending one Email to a company, in response to a perceived error on their website? Just to be clear – this is not some poor sap’s personal resume on his own web page. I might find that use of ‘architected’ funny (and sad), but I wouldn’t send an Email. This was the companies CV of a valued employee. The word was not used, IMHO, to clarify – it was a lame attempt to impress. Here’s the companies link: [http://www.edward-lowe.com/](http://www.edward-lowe.com/) Click on ‘Our People’, then on Rocky. Be sure to also check out the ‘About ELA’ section for the cliche mission statement. > [@](#): > > Rocky: …has architected and developed some of the most innovative and superior custom solutions … vast experience designing, developing, deploying and supporting departmental and enterprise business solutions … has developed and implemented enterprise solutions … Architected numerous solutions … Architected and developed many new innovative features … Architected and developed … I think the use of ‘architected’ is wrong in this, and any, case. If we allow this noun to become a verb, we continue a trend that is making our language more complex than it already is. Furthermore, I don’t find it mean or cruel in any way to point out errors on peoples and companies web pages. When you put something out on the web, you are putting it in a public place. If it’s not correct, you should be thankful someone is letting you know. Any angry response must be driven by an inability to take criticism, and a culture that seeks to fix the blame – not the problem. ---
**Author:** ![LindyHopper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ebca7d/32.png) [@LindyHopper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LindyHopper)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2001, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-word/64787/13 "2001-05-09T23:07:34Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by SPOOFE \* > \*\*Isn’t that totally spam? \*\* It’s lubricated! Well, I’m phasing. Good one, **SPOOFE**! ---
**Author:** ![JeffB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeffb/32/188_2.png) [@JeffB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JeffB)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2001, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-word/64787/14 "2001-05-10T03:13:49Z")
I have to agree that Rocky has certainly overused the word. Architect and its derivatives shouldn’t appear that many times in a single resume. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Danalan \* > I think the use of ‘architected’ is wrong in this, and any, case. If we allow this noun to become a verb, we continue a trend that is making our language more complex than it already is. What’s this “if we allow” bit? It’s not like we’re the French. One of the great things about the English language is that it constantly adapts and has a sort of organic growth to it. As I pointed out, _architected_ is already an established word, and I agree with **Bill H.** that it has a slightly different connotation than built, designed, or planned. In most cases, it has a jargonish sound and should be avoided. (See how easy it is to use a word like _jargonish_ in English and have people understand it. I was hoping it was a “made up” word, but apparently, it goes back to 1816.) > [@](#): > > Furthermore, I don’t find it mean or cruel in any way to point out errors on peoples and companies web pages. When you put something out on the web, you are putting it in a public place. If it’s not correct, you should be thankful someone is letting you know. Any angry response must be driven by an inability to take criticism, and a culture that seeks to fix the blame – not the problem. Now that I know it wasn’t just some poor guy’s resume, I don’t have any problem with what you did. I just wasn’t sure what the circumstance was initially. I agree that the company’s web site is not particularly good, which I find disturbing given that one of their services is web design. There’s enough bad web design out there without “professionals” adding to it. ---
**Author:** ![cykrider](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f19dbf/32.png) [@cykrider](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cykrider)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2001, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-word/64787/15 "2001-05-10T04:42:31Z")
Wouldn’t this just be another buzz word though? Sometimes old words are brought back to life with a different meaning in the biz. world. Of course I wouldn’t know, I’m still in college. However, I find it pretty interesting how knowing a few buzz words can make you seem really smart and allow you to get a job, if only for 6mo. and then they discover that you really don’t know jack and you’re tossed out faster than moldy cheese. I think if anyone used this word around me, I’d tell them that they “really vexed me on that one and thou shall go stick thine head into ye olde watering hole and breath in, ya dig? Narly dude.” ---
**Author:** ![Mysphyt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/dbc845/32.png) [@Mysphyt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mysphyt)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2001, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-word/64787/16 "2001-05-10T05:24:06Z")
> [@](#): > > Narly dude. Point of order: “gnarly” is spelled with a g. No, I don’t know why. ---
**Author:** ![cykrider](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f19dbf/32.png) [@cykrider](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cykrider)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2001, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-word/64787/17 "2001-05-10T05:58:36Z")
Oh, sorry “d00d” that’s not my generation man. Thanks though. 🙂 [sub]My generation is one known for horrific spelling.[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![TN\_hippie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/858c86/32.png) [@TN\_hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TN_hippie)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2001, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-word/64787/18 "2001-05-10T06:30:17Z")
I notioned to text on this, but serenitied against it. Peace, TN\*hippie