In the past few years, I’ve noticed that fewer and fewer people use the word “before.” Instead, “prior to” is increasingly used. At work, when reviewing the writing of others, I’m always red-penning “prior to,” and substituting “before.”
When did the shift from “before” to “prior to” begin? Why?
Google results:
“Before” - 153,000,000 hits.
“Prior to” - 11,600,000 hits.
Looks to me like “before” is still far more frequently used. I think it’s just another example of corporate pseudo-intellectualism, like saying “myself” when they mean “we” or using the phrase “as per”.
I havent noticed a decrease in the use of “before” in everyday usage. I think in general (possibly even due to the net itself) people generally are becoming more precise as well as more eloquent in their speech and even more in the written word.
One word I have always wondered about though is “lit”.
As in I went over and lit the fire. Or, ‘A smile lit up her face’.
I almost never see the word written anymore and have even seen lighted substituted in reprinting of older works. I have not however seen anything to suggest it is for instance a bastardized word like ain’t or something similar.
Just something I have wondered about…
Sorry to hijack, but can you please give an example of this? I can’t place it.
I think he meant to say “me” and examples abound. As for myself, I prefer to say “me”.
Yes, I meant “me”. Would you believe someone turned my M key upside-down?
Never noticed the ‘prior to’ thing…but I suspect I’m guilty of it. Another one, which really really annoys me ever since it was pointed out to me: the word ‘whilst’ is utterly unnecessary. Always use ‘while’.
No sir, I wouldn’t believe it.
Wouldn’t believe it one bit.
[/Mr. Horse]
I believe these are the same people who insist upon saying “at the present time” instead of “now”. They think it makes them sound more intelligent.
Or the people who use the word ‘utilize’ when they could just as easily utilize the word ‘use.’
These words always show up in goverment papers and press releases where I think they must get paid by the letter.
Signage = Signs
Embayment = Bay
Linkage = Link
Action Plan = Plan
Witnessed = Saw
Physically Challenged = Disabled
Mandated Requirements = either Mandates or Requirements
Quibbles…
Two different things…if you repaint a sign with different lettering, it’s new signage but the same sign.
Is linkage not a collective noun? Assuming it’s used correctly…
I’d presume the distinction to be that ‘witnessed’ implies that person would be capable of describing what they saw with some accuracy.
Some disabilities are not physically challenging. Some have mental illnesses have affects on physical mobility in various ways.
Why?
It’s an example of two words with the same meaning. English has lots of pairs like that, which allows a greater range of stylistic choices. It’s not like using two or three words where one would do, which is what the OP was talking about.
When I worked in retail, signage referred to not just the actual signs, but any merchandising product featuring the same logos or theme. i.e. a shipment of signange for a new merchandising rollout could include signs, stickers, buttons, window clings, banners, or any other number of items that wouldn’t necessarily fall under the single category of ‘signs’.
Because using ‘whilst’ sounds pretentious. IMHO 
It’s not a stylistic choice, it’s an etymological mutant (no that isn’t a technical term 
)
It’s worse than this. They say “at this time” when they don’t need to say anything at all. I always notice this in US airports.
“Could all passengers travelling to Denver please proceed to Gate 3 at this time”.
Does the announcer think if they just said "“Could all passengers travelling to Denver please proceed to Gate 3” those listening might think the announcer meant “next week” or what?
“At this time” sounds a bit more polite than “now.” “Now” has an essence of command.
Other terms, such as “signage” are legalese and usually only used in leases and like documents. The term includes a subset of items not usually considered “signs” such as the writing on and sizes of awnings, banners, flags, flyers and any other identifying or advertising materials visible from the street or affixed to the facade of the building.
I think I could write a book, or at least a series of articles for the New Yorker, on corporate pseudo-intellectualism. Most of these terms are combinations of words that are easy to spell and pronounce, or an ordinary word with a prefix or suffix, that people genuinely think will make them intelligent. (I think they think this because the magazine/newspaper article that they got the word from told them it would make them sound smart.)
I’ve seen all the examples that have been given, though ‘whilst’ is a British English word that has naturally disappeared from American English, like the distinction between ‘toward’ and ‘towards’ or ‘among’ and ‘amongst’. Some others that annoy me:
The far-reaching overuse of the word ‘just’. As in ‘just to let you know’, ‘just a few minor layoffs’, as if the word will lessen the impact of what follows.
‘Please let me know if you have any questions’, and similar phrases. Business emails aren’t real letters, so the traditional ‘Yours truly’, ‘Sincerely’ and so on have been replaced by ‘Thanks.’ Using ‘Thanks’ without a ‘please’ or ‘I would appreciate’ doesn’t make sense to me, so all my emails end with some form of ‘Please let me know if you have any questions’. So do everyone else’s.
Making up words by adding a suffix. I think people think these are brilliant new words that make you sound smarter. But real, lasting words are legitimately added to the language by literature and art, not on brainstormed lists in a boardroom. There is nothing about ‘deliverable’ or ‘actionable’ that can’t be expressed with another word. (Deliverable is particularly bad, because -able forms adjectives, and it’s only in the business world that it forms nouns.)
Stupid catchphrases. ‘Touch base’ is my least favorite; it’s still in use despite being a favorite of my evil eighth-grade teacher ten years ago. Or ‘heads-up’, when ‘update’ would work. Some of these are euphemisms, like ‘action team’ instead of ‘committee’.
Power words. I’ve said a few already about ‘action’. If you use the word ‘action’, suddenly it’s like you’re abseiling from a helicopter into the secret lair of a ring of global computer thieves deep inside the Malaysian jungle instead of listening to a group of people just throwing out ideas they picked up from the magazine they were reading during their three-hour commute.
I think I could go on, probably for some time. There are a lot of these words/phrases, and the number is increasing. Please do not hesitate to contribute to this discussion if you know of any other words. Please let me know if you have any questions.
Thanks,
Roches
Now that you’ve mentioned this, how do these terms differ? I know there is a difference, but I can’t imagine how interchanging them would have a big impact. Examples are always helpful.
Indeed. But this totally misses my point.
Read some basic information on where words come from and you will find that this is utter tosh. Real words are just made up by people, often by changing existing words. Type “etymology” into Google and start reading.