I’m reading a lot of scholarly writing these days. Unfortunately that means that I’m reading a lot of bad writing these days. I have some sympathy with these writers–they are writing about complex topics in a discipline (psychology) which has a long tradition of bad writing. I worked many, many, many hours on my honors thesis and only managed to get it out of the “bad writing” category, not into the “good writing” category, except perhaps here and there. However, there are two very easy things we can all do to make scholarly writing better: Stop using the words “utilize” and “extant.”
“Utilize” means no more or less than “use,” and “use” is a better word because it’s simpler and everyone knows what it means.
“Extant” means no more or less than “existing.” Scholarly writers love to refer to “the extant literature” on a topic. It’s not just bad because most people don’t know what “extant” means, it’s bad because if you do know what it means, you know it’s completely superfluous in the phrase “the extant literature.” That is, unless you are really making the distinction between the literature that exists and the literature that does not exist. And you are not.
It may be that folks who are using these words just can’t help it, in the way that a guitarist who has just learned a bunch of flashy licks can’t help playing them all the time. The thing is, you are a writer. You get to edit. Please edit out these words.
October 24, 2009 at 3:27 pm
Hi Nathen,
Did you ever think that maybe these writers _are_ making a distinction between literature that exists and literature that doesn’t? They are writing about the state of the literature at at a certain time, after all. Maybe they are just letting you know that there will be literature coming out later that may contradict what they have to say about the literature to date.
Sincerely,
Nathen
October 24, 2009 at 3:40 pm
Hi Nathen,
Yes, actually, I did think about that as I was trying to sleep after posting. I take back my statement about “extant” being superfluous. I still don’t like the word, though, and will continue to dislike it when I come across “the extant literature.” I liked how you put it better–“the literature to date.” “The existing literature” is also preferable.
I also came across a case for the word “utilize,” which I should mention. Grammar Girl says that it’s OK in scientific writing and gives the example, “If a diet contains too much phosphorus, calcium is not utilized efficiently.” I have to admit I’m not as annoyed by that use as I am when I read about immigrants utilizing mental health services. Maybe “utilize” is OK for chemistry. I’m not convinced, but I’m open minded. Keep it out of psychology, though, please.
Anyway, thanks for commenting!
Best,
Nathen
November 1, 2009 at 10:52 pm
All right, all right! I’ll stop using those words! Sheesh!
November 2, 2009 at 1:09 am
Well, Mom, I would say “Good, because it will improve your writing,” except that you never use those words anyway.
And good for you!
Love,
Nathen
January 14, 2010 at 10:35 pm
Agreed, agreed!
Also “discourse.”
January 14, 2010 at 10:38 pm
OK, give me more about “discourse.” Convince me. Just a fancy way to say “conversation”? What would you replace it with?
Nathen