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Usenet Posted 22 years ago
English in UK
The efficacy of efficaciousness
After writing, "You can judge the efficacy of that technique for yourself," I wondered whether I should have used
"efficaciousness." AFAICT, the words mean precisely the same thing. The etymologies are the same. MWUCD11 says that "efficacy" has been used in English since the thirteenth century, and "efficaciousness" has been used since 1528.
FWIW, I just ran a spell check using Agent. It had no problem with "efficacy," but it did with "efficaciousness." Is there any reason for preferring one word over the other? TIA.
Mike Bandy
"efficaciousness." AFAICT, the words mean precisely the same thing. The etymologies are the same. MWUCD11 says that "efficacy" has been used in English since the thirteenth century, and "efficaciousness" has been used since 1528.
FWIW, I just ran a spell check using Agent. It had no problem with "efficacy," but it did with "efficaciousness." Is there any reason for preferring one word over the other? TIA.
Mike Bandy
Top answer
" ... " Is there any reason for preferring one word over the other? [/nq] Yes, too may people pronounce it e-FIC-acy.
- " ...
- " Is there any reason for preferring one word over the other?
- [/nq] Yes, too may people pronounce it e-FIC-acy.
- m.
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5 Answers
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[nq:1]After writing, "You can judge the efficacy of that technique for yourself," I wondered whether I should have used "efficaciousness." ... problem with "efficacy," but it did with "efficaciousness." Is there any reason for preferring one word over the other? TIA.[/nq]
Yes, too may people pronounce it e-FIC-acy.
m.
Yes, too may people pronounce it e-FIC-acy.
m.
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[nq:2]After writing, "You can judge the efficacy of that technique ... any reason for preferring one word over the other? TIA.[/nq]
[nq:1]Yes, too may people pronounce it e-FIC-acy.[/nq]
The efficacy of your typing leaves something to be desired. As to the word itself: it always makes me think of snake oil; why not use an alternative? :- efficiency, adequacy, utility, ..
[nq:1]Yes, too may people pronounce it e-FIC-acy.[/nq]
The efficacy of your typing leaves something to be desired. As to the word itself: it always makes me think of snake oil; why not use an alternative? :- efficiency, adequacy, utility, ..
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[nq:1]After writing, "You can judge the efficacy of that technique for yourself," I wondered whether I should have used "efficaciousness." ... problem with "efficacy," but it did with "efficaciousness." Is there any reason for preferring one word over the other? TIA.[/nq]
"Efficaciousness" is unwieldy, so I would prefer "efficacy".
John Hall
"I am not young enough to know everything."
"Efficaciousness" is unwieldy, so I would prefer "efficacy".
John Hall
"I am not young enough to know everything."
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[nq:2]with "efficacy," but it did with "efficaciousness." Is there any reason for preferring one word over the other? TIA.[/nq]
[nq:1]"Efficaciousness" is unwieldy, so I would prefer "efficacy".[/nq]
You're absolute right. I've probably never used
"efficaciousness" in my life, and there's no reason to start now.
Mike Bandy
Efficacious Grasshopper
(My uncle gave me "Gra
[nq:1]"Efficaciousness" is unwieldy, so I would prefer "efficacy".[/nq]
You're absolute right. I've probably never used
"efficaciousness" in my life, and there's no reason to start now.
Mike Bandy
Efficacious Grasshopper
(My uncle gave me "Gra
00
[nq:2]Yes, too may people pronounce it e-FIC-acy.[/nq]
[nq:1]The efficacy of your typing leaves something to be desired. As to the word itself: it always makes me think of snake oil; why not use an alternative? :- efficiency, adequacy, utility, ..[/nq]
Those words have different connotations. That's why I didn't use "efficiency" or "effectiveness." I'd have used "adequacy" if I'd have thou
[nq:1]The efficacy of your typing leaves something to be desired. As to the word itself: it always makes me think of snake oil; why not use an alternative? :- efficiency, adequacy, utility, ..[/nq]
Those words have different connotations. That's why I didn't use "efficiency" or "effectiveness." I'd have used "adequacy" if I'd have thou
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