Methodology

If you are using ‘methodology’ as a replacement for ‘method’, please stop. Not only does it sound pretentious, but to those of us who actually know that ‘methodology’ means ‘the study of working methods’, it reeks of illiteracy.

Just say what you mean. Why complicate everything?

By Kim Siever

I am a copywriter and copyeditor. I blog on writing and social media tips mostly, but I sometimes throw in my thoughts about running a small business. Follow me on Twitter at @hotpepper.

3 comments

  1. Kim,

    I would much rather see people stop saying “orientate” and “irregardless”. These are not words at all.

    BTW the definition of methodology that I am familiar with is, “the body of methods and rules employed by a science or discipline.” -The New Penguin English Dictionary. It is however, used incorrectly and is pretentious, *regardless* of meaning.

  2. Right. A body of methods, not the methods themselves. :)

  3. Could you briefly touch on the methodology you used to arrive at this post?

    (Sorry, couldn’t resist)

Comments are closed.