I work as a corporate trainer for a major electronics distributor. We are currently in the process of hiring a new trainer, so we’re interviewing prospectives. I am expected to be in on these interviews.
Each interviewee must present a 10-15 minute “training” session on a topic of their choosing, utilizing class participation and adult learning theory. This, so far, has been fairly standard.
Yesterday, during his interview, one prospective trainer said he would keep it short, because “I don’t want to monopolate your time.”
And then, during the training, he mentioned “monopolating” again.
Interviewee, prepare thyself for the Pitting.
I understand you were probably nervous about presenting before a group of 6 other trainers. God knows I feel that way myself. However, tossing out invented words to a group of men and women who write and deliver training for a living is never going to end well. Especially, it should be said, to a group of trainers that had to abruptly stop what they were doing to attend said interview.
You smug, sly little monkey fart. Did you think we wouldn’t notice? If so, what does that say about your perception of us? That we’re a bunch of stupid doe-dee-dohs with no grasp of the language?
Oh, and don’t worry. We have your resume on file. We will periodically review it so we can all have a good laugh at your Bush-like command of the language.
What words or phrases make your neck hair tingle, they’re so bad?
I think it’s reasonable to extrapolize from your anecdote that buddy’s prospects for the future are pretty bleak, if his presentations are consistently interpolized with bastardated words.
As with every time this subject pops up, “for all intensive purposes.”
No, no, no, no, no, no, NO!
Nor is the word “hung” used in relation to the dangling of human bodies, except in a very specialized way that has absolutely nothing to do with dying by rope.
Nor, dear speaker of what is nominally, I suppose, English, does the word “of” take the place of “have” in phrases such as “should have”, “could have”, “would have” or “must have.”
<Henry Higgins>
Oh, why can’t the English teach their children how to speak…?
There even are places where English completely disappears. Why, in America they haven’t used it in years…</Henry Higgins>
Years ago it seemed that every military weapons instructor on the planet used the word “incennerary” instead of “incendiary”. Drove me nuts.
However, my favorite non-word, and one that I use often, is “crapulent”. As in, ‘this fine product brought to you by Crapulent Industries, maker of truly shitty products’. It’s a variation on the legitimate word “feculent”, but much funnier.
I must be weird or else I’m being whooshed, but isn’t it clear that this poor sap meant to say monopolize?
And if so, the OP’s reaction to his mistake seems to me to be just a bit harsh.
I’m sure you’ve never in your life misspoke or said a word the wrong way. Give him a break. I sincerely doubt he was trying to pull the wool over your eyes.
I’m not saying he should get the job, but it’s a little much to mock his resume in absentia and call him a monkey fart.
Sorry, pal – once is a mistake. Twice is a trend. If you have a trend towards saying something stupid, make sure it’s not in an interview, especially with wordsmiths in a job where it’s your responsibility to speak well.
And FTR, he’s not getting the job because he had 7 different jobs in the past three years. Apparently he doesn’t like to monopolate the folks in Payroll, either.
A couple weeks ago in a staff meeting a co-worker of mine, who is actually incredibly intelligent, referred to a statement somebody else had made as “disgenius”.
Chastain86
Yes, as you see in my post I said I didn’t think it would make sense to offer him the job.
My issue is with your reaction to his stupidity. We’re all stupid from time to time. It’s a part of the human condition. You make mistakes, too. Let’s hope the people surrounding you are more forgiving than you seem to be in this thread.
One of my pet peeves is when someone uses “utilize” when “use” is a perfectly good (if more and more underutilized) word. I strike it out nine times out of ten when I copyedit blustery reports. My guiding principle: “Eschew obfuscatory sesquipedalianism!”
