Answer: phase vs. faze
starwatcher307 asked when do you use "phase" versus "faze"?
With examples from NCIS.
Phase and faze actually have quite different meanings, so the trick is in working out which word to use when. If we go to merriam-webster.com, then phase, as a noun, is defined as being "a particular appearance or state in a regularly recurring cycle of changes".
So when we think of phase, we talk about things like "phases of the moon", because this is related to a recurring cycle. Other things which we might describe as having a phase could be a career, a stage of development, or the steps used in solving a problem. It's even possible to talk about keeping raw materials "in phase" with a production cycle in manufacturing, which means that the materials come in as they are consumed. An example of using phase as a noun is:"Ziva, is it just me, or has Tony been playing more practical jokes than usual?"
"Do not worry, McGee, I am sure it is just a phase he is going through."
However, phase is not just a noun but is also a transitive verb meaning "to adjust so as to be in a synchronized condition", "to conduct or carry out by planned phases", or "to introduce in stages". So, no matter whether it's used as a noun or a verb, phase will always be related to cycles or stages in time. An example of the verb usage of phase is:"McGee, do we really have to complete all this new paperwork?"
"You only have to fill out the first page this month, Tony, because it's being phased in over the next three months."
Faze, on the other hand, means "to disturb the composure of", and hence has a much more limited usage. The only time it's normally used is when talking about someone being disturbed, or not disturbed at all, by a particular turn of events. In fact, while it's fairly common to say someone "wasn't fazed" or "is unfazed" by something -- in other words, unaffected -- it would be unusual to say they were fazed by it.Ziva slowly aimed at her target, completely unfazed by the bullets flying around her.
And now for the tricky bit, an example using both words!"Abby, why are you so excited?"
"Ziva! Look at this! I analysed the signals from both cell phones, and look what I found!"
"Um, what am I looking at?"
"Can't you see they're operating on opposing frequencies?"
"Oh. You mean the different curves here? They are unfazed."
"No, Ziva, they're out of phase. It's not like one is disturbed by the other!"
So how do you remember when to use each word? Phase relates to things that are part of a process or cycle, and most of the time this is probably the word you'll use. Faze is only used when talking about someone's composure, and has no relation to any sort of process or cycle. And if you stretch things a little, then remember that faze is only one letter difference from face, and if someone is disturbed it's going to show on their face, not on their phaser, which is what Captain Kirk used on Star Trek to zap Klingons. :)
With examples from NCIS.
Phase and faze actually have quite different meanings, so the trick is in working out which word to use when. If we go to merriam-webster.com, then phase, as a noun, is defined as being "a particular appearance or state in a regularly recurring cycle of changes".
So when we think of phase, we talk about things like "phases of the moon", because this is related to a recurring cycle. Other things which we might describe as having a phase could be a career, a stage of development, or the steps used in solving a problem. It's even possible to talk about keeping raw materials "in phase" with a production cycle in manufacturing, which means that the materials come in as they are consumed. An example of using phase as a noun is:"Ziva, is it just me, or has Tony been playing more practical jokes than usual?"
"Do not worry, McGee, I am sure it is just a phase he is going through."
However, phase is not just a noun but is also a transitive verb meaning "to adjust so as to be in a synchronized condition", "to conduct or carry out by planned phases", or "to introduce in stages". So, no matter whether it's used as a noun or a verb, phase will always be related to cycles or stages in time. An example of the verb usage of phase is:"McGee, do we really have to complete all this new paperwork?"
"You only have to fill out the first page this month, Tony, because it's being phased in over the next three months."
Faze, on the other hand, means "to disturb the composure of", and hence has a much more limited usage. The only time it's normally used is when talking about someone being disturbed, or not disturbed at all, by a particular turn of events. In fact, while it's fairly common to say someone "wasn't fazed" or "is unfazed" by something -- in other words, unaffected -- it would be unusual to say they were fazed by it.Ziva slowly aimed at her target, completely unfazed by the bullets flying around her.
And now for the tricky bit, an example using both words!"Abby, why are you so excited?"
"Ziva! Look at this! I analysed the signals from both cell phones, and look what I found!"
"Um, what am I looking at?"
"Can't you see they're operating on opposing frequencies?"
"Oh. You mean the different curves here? They are unfazed."
"No, Ziva, they're out of phase. It's not like one is disturbed by the other!"
So how do you remember when to use each word? Phase relates to things that are part of a process or cycle, and most of the time this is probably the word you'll use. Faze is only used when talking about someone's composure, and has no relation to any sort of process or cycle. And if you stretch things a little, then remember that faze is only one letter difference from face, and if someone is disturbed it's going to show on their face, not on their phaser, which is what Captain Kirk used on Star Trek to zap Klingons. :)