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Pastimes : SI Grammar and Spelling Lab -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: The Philosopher who wrote (3229)	7/24/1999 4:21:00 PM
From: E	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 4711

Christopher, my 13 vol. OED gives expertize as a verb; but not expertise. It also describes expertize as a "nonce-wd," which, in the OED, is "a word apparently used only for the nonce," which I take to mean for the example offered, and not having full acceptance. You may have a supplement or two I don't, though. Expertize would be pronounced with a long i, I assume. In my Supplement volume, expertise only is given, and is only given as a noun. But still, I've gotta say something about such uses as expertize and dialogue as verbs. Think of teaching your children about grammar and usage. You do it for a number of reasons. One of them is to give them an advantage in the world. It may well be quite advantageous for them to have the ability to, when they wish, speak and write as do the most sophisticated users of the language. If they say, "My job isn't no good," they are likely not to get a better one; and it may, the world being what it is, limit their possibilities in other ways. So you and I both know that one of the uses of language is, in our country as well as in England, where much is told by class accents, to make a claim to the world about one's place in it.(In England, families make enormous sacrifices to pay for their children to attend boarding schools at which they will acquire the most advantageous accent.) Christopher, when you use 'dialogue' as a verb, or 'expertize,' unless you are offered the opportunity to whip out Volume III of the OED, many sophisticated users of English will draw subtle conclusions about your... something. Sensibility, at least. Education, maybe. Sensitivity to language, certainly. Or at least they will think, "Oh dear." They will be unfair, but they will be drawn. They were drawn here, by Steven, who is the most sophisticated user of language on SI, his claim to know nothing about grammar notwithstanding, as part of our game, and you were able to brandish your secret weapon and win the point, on dialogue. But it doesn't change certain sad facts about the world. If my son used dialogue as a verb, or expertise, either, I'd say What?! Stop that! (But he wouldn't....lol!)