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Baraka_Guru · 06-05-2008, 05:38 AM

I want to revive this thread because I think it had a bit of a false start. Maybe I will think of a few tips every now and then for general help.

For those who don't know, grammar is a part of my job. I'm a book editor. I would like to go just beyond grammar in this thread too. Let's get into word usage as well.

I thought of the following word because I caught myself misusing it. The word is invest. I just posted in a thread about Wii Fit. I initially typed the following: "I would invest in the white pad thingy if...." The problem? Well, the white pad thingy would not be an investment. An investment is the purchase of a product or service from which you intend to make a return (a financial one). People misuse invest all the time....

"I invested in a bicycle so I will get into shape."
"I invested in the Playstation 3 because it's the best system out there."
"I need to invest in a new computer; the one I have now is getting pretty slow."
"I think that car was a good investment; now I can go anywhere I want, when I want."

These are all poor word choices. Bought, buy, and purchase would be more suitable. The items in the examples above aren't investments because they won't likely increase in value; they will almost certainly decrease. Also notice that the reasons for the purchases have nothing to do with any return on investment (ROI)—they were for other, more qualified reasons.

Don't take the word invest for granted. I would go into detail about the difference between invest and speculate, but that is more a topic for a finance thread.

06-05-2008, 05:38 AM	#18 (permalink)
Baraka_Guru warrior bodhisattva Super Moderator Location: East-central Canada	I want to revive this thread because I think it had a bit of a false start. Maybe I will think of a few tips every now and then for general help. For those who don't know, grammar is a part of my job. I'm a book editor. I would like to go just beyond grammar in this thread too. Let's get into word usage as well. I thought of the following word because I caught myself misusing it. The word is invest. I just posted in a thread about Wii Fit. I initially typed the following: "I would invest in the white pad thingy if...." The problem? Well, the white pad thingy would not be an investment. An investment is the purchase of a product or service from which you intend to make a return (a financial one). People misuse invest all the time.... "I invested in a bicycle so I will get into shape." "I invested in the Playstation 3 because it's the best system out there." "I need to invest in a new computer; the one I have now is getting pretty slow." "I think that car was a good investment; now I can go anywhere I want, when I want." These are all poor word choices. Bought, buy, and purchase would be more suitable. The items in the examples above aren't investments because they won't likely increase in value; they will almost certainly decrease. Also notice that the reasons for the purchases have nothing to do with any return on investment (ROI)—they were for other, more qualified reasons. Don't take the word invest for granted. I would go into detail about the difference between invest and speculate, but that is more a topic for a finance thread. __________________ Knowing that death is certain and that the time of death is uncertain, what's the most important thing? —Bhikkhuni Pema Chödrön Humankind cannot bear very much reality. —From "Burnt Norton," Four Quartets (1936), T. S. Eliot Last edited by Baraka_Guru; 06-05-2008 at 05:45 AM..