Word Murder

[robin_d_laws]

So I’ve got this idea which is either brilliant or stupid. To find out which requires some research involving business conditions and numbers and such-like. While conducting this research I keep coming across this horrible word.

MonetizeEww

Comments

[jeffwik]

It's not even the correct definition of monetize.

urban cashification

[perich]

May I recommend "cashify"?

Actually...

[carpdeus]

Monetize is a word that means something other than earn money from. It's just that folks like to put on a false front of sophistication in which they misuse words that other folks don't realize are being misused and thus perpetuate. According to Merriam Webster's, monetize (from the Latin moneta, means to coin into legal tender.

Re: Actually...

[agrumer]

Or, a bit more broadly, to turn into money, as in debt monetization. From there it's just a small step to make money from.

English speakers have a very strong tendency towards making verbs out of things, and this almost always horrifies the first generation of people who aren't in on the coining. Early 20th century language snobs used to get all huffy about "contact" as a verb.

[memento_mori]

I first encountered that word while working at a .com and man, it set my teeth on edge even then. Yech.

[pauldrye]

Not that monetize is a good word (my personal bugaboo is "utilize" in place of "use"), but "earn money from" dangles a participle if you're not careful. Which is a bit naff.