Ceteris Paribus

[swee'pea99]

"Other things being equal" is what almost anyone would say. So you should too.

It's one thing to use a foreign expression - even a fairly obscure one - if there simply is no English equivalent (schadenfreude, for example), but to use one in preference to an English expression in everyday usage does look a bit like the act of a ...now, what's the expression I need?

 

[threebikesmcginty]

Biggus Dickus

 

[Chromatic]

Biggus Dickus

Excellent post 3BM

 

[yello]

Personally, I avoid phrases/wording that I have a tenuous grasp of. If I feel I'm being a bit of a smart arse then chances are that I am, so I prefer to reword for something simpler. Imho, the writer shouldn't appear bigger than their words.

I accept that there are contexts when the 'smart arse' choice is both unavoidable and more succinct than any alternative. For instance...

It's also a nice example of how Latin can use the ablative absolute without a participle.

I've no idea what that means either! Though I know that it's clear and accurate phrasing. More importantly, I do know where to find out what it means.

 

[Aperitif]

Agreed about the Latin lesson, Andrew - it's all Greek to me!
I thought young Andy's original 'catchphrase' was about French capital city transport and the timetables. As soon as I saw cet...
Good luck Andy - look forward to reading the dissertation...publish it in The Café eh?

 

[Globalti]

To use Latin phrases where a perfectly good English translation exists is just inexcusable pomposity. It is the duty of writers to write as clearly and succinctly as possible.

After the 2005 London bombings the emergency services were criticised in the official inquiry for linguistic verbosity, which caused misunderstandings and cost lives.

 

[swee'pea99]

After the 2005 London bombings the emergency services were criticised in the official inquiry for linguistic verbosity, which caused misunderstandings and cost lives.

True story: a friend of mine, not majorly bright, was almost operated on when after a week in hospital he was still responding 'no' to the repeated question 'Have you experienced any bowel movements?' Surgery was only prevented when his visiting mum asked him whether he'd had a shoot. He said in his defense that he wasn't sure what bowels were, but he was sure they 'were down there somewhere', and nothing down there had been moving, at all at all.

 

[srw]

After the 2005 London bombings the emergency services were criticised in the official inquiry for linguistic verbosity, which caused misunderstandings and cost lives.

After the 2005 London bombings, the official inquiry criticised the emergency services for using long and complicated words. This meant that people died because rescuers didn't understand instructions.

 

[Haitch]

People died because the inquiry criticised the emergency services?

 

[Globalti]

After the 2005 London bombings, the official inquiry criticised the emergency services for using long and complicated words. This meant that people died because rescuers didn't understand instructions.

Ha ha Touché!

 

[yello]

In fairness, it is a difficult subject. You do need to know your intended audience. One persons 'dumbing down' is another's 'smart arse'. Technical terminology and jargon is appropriate in one context yet not another.

In the context of a dissertation, it might be entirely appropriate and relevant to say 'ceteris paribus'. I can't honestly say, I just feel I'd avoid it.

The question is really for the author (not just specifically ilb, but writers generally). What are they wanting to achieve in using the particular words? And I feel that if you're asking yourself that question then you maybe have the answer too. Something feels wrong about your chosen words.

 

[Aperitif]

Ars longa...must stop rolling them - particularly ahead of Scotland v England this Saturday. (The result? iudicum difficile)

 

[Vapin' Joe]

Is he Manchester City's new signing?

 

[MacB]

I think you should write the whole thing in the style of Dellboy, not our beloved Dell, the original Fools and Horses version.

On the OP, no I didn't know it and looked it up and yes I ticked pretentious twat from the options

 

[iLB]

In my defence, I am the product of institutions which celebrate and hold in high regard pretentiousness...

It's more than a bit tempting to leave it in, purely to frustrate my supervisor.