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Victo Posted 16 years ago
Grammar

In excelsis

Can you use the word in excelsis in this manner?

He has confidence in excelsis.

He possesses arrogance in excelsis.

Thanks.
  

Top answer

You can, but only if you really mean 'in the highest degree', and even then, given the phrase's association with sacred texts, I probably wouldn't use it in relation to a negative trait such as arrogance. If you're looking for a more native, and more efficient, turn of phrase, try: He is supremely confident. He is supremely arrogant.

— Futurist

  • You can, but only if you really mean 'in the highest degree', and even then, given the phrase's association with sacred texts, I probably wouldn't use it in relation to a negative trait such as arrogance.
  • If you're looking for a more native, and more efficient, turn of phrase, try: He is supremely confident.
  • He is supremely arrogant.
  • Because 'in excelsis' isn't yet fully naturalized, I would italicize it.
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1 Answers
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You can, but only if you really mean 'in the highest degree', and even then, given the phrase's association with sacred texts, I probably wouldn't use it in relation to a negative trait such as arrogance. If you're looking for a more native, and more efficient, turn of phrase, try:

He is supremely confident.
He is supremely arrogant.

Because 'in excelsis' isn't yet fully nat
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