Ok... I can be a grammar nazi. I admit it. In fact, that is one of my brother's nicknames for me. But I just think that good word choices and proper grammar always make a good impression.
I also believe that it is important for us to know the proper way to speak the king's English. This way when we are in those ever important job interviews, or business meetings, we are taken seriously. One bad word choice or obvious grammatical error, and anything worthwhile we say after that is lost.
So, to my brother's dismay, I correct him every time he uses a word incorrectly, or in a grammatically incorrect way. It may seem a bit harsh, but its for his own good. I do this for anyone that matters to me. If I don't know you like that, don't worry, you are safe.
So, during a conversation with a friend that that I will call Y.G. the word conversate slipped out. My immediate reaction was... Booooooo! Conversate is NOT a word. The error was corrected, and the conversation continued to flow, but the next day, Y.G. sent me this link.
It is a link to some site where people define words themselves. Basically, you can post any word you like and create a definition for it. I was horrified that someone had actually submitted CONVERSATE! They are REALLY trying to make that a word!
CONVERSATE IS NOT A WORD!!!
After sitting for a moment and contemplating the horrible effects the word conversate would wreak upon society, I realized that I there was something that I could do to stop it. This was after all, a site based upon submitted definitions. So... I decided to submit a definition of my own.
conversate (v.) - The incorrect form of the proper word 'converse' used by dizzy people who don't know that conversate isnt a word : "We conversated about our plan, then decided to take the streamroller anyway," said the remedial english student.
I submitted it to the site. It should be live in 3 weeks.
You can type that it is not a word, but, the "word" is in several dictionaries, and the "word" supposably is also in a few dictionaries. Regardless of what anyone contends about whether if it is a word or not, in my view, it is a word. In your view, it is not a word. In another person's view, it is a word, and, yet, in another person's view, it is not a word. It depends on what a person means the word, "word." Many people have different opinions concerning what makes a combination of letters a word. By your logic, I can argue that "house" is not a word, although, it is in many dictionaries. I have already state some sources that argues that "conversate" is a word. One can state that it is not a word, but, in my opinion, it is undeniable that there are dictionaries that states that it is a word. Dictionaries are very reliable to me, and if a particular combination of letters is in a dictionary, then, it is a word, and it cannot be argued; it is undebatable, and irrefuatable.
Posted by: William | February 03, 2008 at 12:57 AM
Of course : "conversate" and "supposeably" are words...they are words used by stupid, uneducated people who are trying to impress others but come off sounding...well, stupid and uneducated. They are words that illustrate why people go to college, so that they don't sound like they crawled out from under some rock. So use these words all you want, and remember what Forest Gump said, "Stupid is as Stupid Does."
Posted by: Banjahwah | February 03, 2008 at 04:54 PM
Is it possible that there are educated people who are trying to impress others but come off souding stupid and uneducated? In my view, yes, I believe so very strongly. I try to tolerate all opinions and beliefs, therefore, there is no need for me to insult people or call them names, because they disagree with me. I regard myself as educated and intelligent, and I do not judge a person's intelligence or lack thereof, by the words they utilize. Consequently, I do not think people who use those words are stupid and uneducated. I do not use those words. I use the standard version of those words. I use "converse" and "supposedly." As I have said before, it depends on what one means when one use the word "word." What do you mean by the word "educated?" Each individual might have a different opinion about what makes a person "educated" or "stupid." In my opinion, a person is educated if that person has at least a high school diploma. Contrary to what I have stated, not everyone who attends college or a university, or has a degree at a college or university is educated. Just as everyone who has a high school diploma is educated. I strongly disagree with you, but, that is what I like about human beings. Not everyone has to agree or disagree with you or me.
Posted by: William | February 04, 2008 at 11:48 PM
My cousins and I used to use the word just being stupid, but then I started hearing others using the word in regular conversation. I was beginning to think maybe we were wrong and it was a real word that never sat right with me. Thank you so much for putting my mind at ease.
Posted by: Brittney | July 03, 2008 at 01:12 AM
Miss Ford would be proud :)
Posted by: Jessica | July 15, 2008 at 01:26 PM
English is my second language and I struggled with the grammar but, I know that "conversate" is not a word. I've read some funny postings but these are the best by far. Love that I'm not the only one with a living hatred for the word...
Posted by: Jorge | July 30, 2008 at 08:59 AM
I just wanted to let you know that conversate was actually admitted into the Merriam Webster Dictionary in 1973. See the link: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/conversate
Posted by: Amy | September 09, 2008 at 07:36 PM
THANK YOU!!!!
One other thing I hate is when people use the word "associate" when they really mean "acquaintance". It's INFURIATING!!!
Posted by: oplleez | December 20, 2008 at 10:25 AM
who says conversate is not a word....it is a word!!! every dictionary I have read has the word in it. Where is this all coming from?
Posted by: denise | June 25, 2009 at 12:59 AM