Use vs. utilize…which is right?
“Use” and “utilize” may sound like two versions of the same word, but they are not, in fact, exactly synonymous. When should you use “use,” and when should you pull out that big vocabulary and use “utilize”?
Aside from sounding pretentious when using the latter, at first glance these words seem almost identical. The definition of use is “to put into action, employ, utilize.” Likewise, the definition of utilize is “to make use of, employ.” But utilize also carries with it an assumed strategy of employment.
What does that mean?
Utilize can be used when indicating that the application is beyond its original intended use. For instance, “I use my frying pan to cook with, but I have utilized it as a weapon.” The intended use of a frying pan is for cooking, so the proper word here is use. When employing a creative or unintended application, like using a frying pan as a weapon, utilize is the right word.
Examples:
I use my pen for writing.
I utilized my pen as a bookmark in my notebook.
She used the mason jar for canning.
She utilized a mason jar for crafting and made it a candle holder.
Of course, you can always replace utilize with use, but you can’t always replace use with utilize. Why?
Both words come from the Latin root util–, but use is the much older word in English. It, therefore, has a much broader definition. Utilize is borrowed from Middle French and first appeared in English in the 1800s. Though derived from the same Latin root, its origin is much closer to that of “utility” and has a narrower definition. Therefore, use can always be used, but utilize should only be used when indicating a creative use.
Some writers throw in the word “utilize” to sound smart, but when doing so in the wrong context, they sound anything but. If you’re looking for words to replace use in your writing, try looking for other handy synonyms like apply, employ, and manage. Be sure to use utilize when talking about creative applications, and stick to use otherwise.
When in doubt, always use use.
18 thoughts on “Grammar 101: Use vs. Utilize”
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Thank you. I keep telling the people I work with to use the common words, but they won’t listen to me…maybe they’ll listen to you! I used this to make my case…LOL
Lol so glad you didn’t write that you utilized this to make your case!
yeep
But he can use “utilize” in this instance. Because his intention is to make his co-workers use common words while the intention of this article is to show the difference between “use” and “utilize”. Am I wrong?
Thank you very much for here detail explanation.
Thank you. This has been so instructive!
I was a newspaper reporter and editor for more than 30 years. An industrial writer. I never once used the word “utilize,” until now of course. I can’t tell you how often I’ve seen people speaking at public meetings start to say “use” and then quickly replace it with “utilize.”
Trying in vain to make themselves look smarter than they are.
I was a newspaper reporter and editor for more than 30 years. An industrial writer. I never once used the word “utilize,” until now of course. I can’t tell you how often I’ve seen people speaking at public meetings start to say “use” and then quickly replace it with “utilize.”
Trying in vain to make themselves look smarter than they are.
As we used to say in Brooklyn, your explanation is clear as mud.”
Great explanation. There’s a well-regarded text by Strunk and White that folks should use when writing pretty much anything.
I was taught by a PhD not to ever use the word utilize. I am a syndicated writer and have never use utilize in any of my writing or my book. And nobody has missed me not using the word….ever.
I use the words use, used and usage instead. I agree simple is best!
That’s really interesting and very helpful. I looked it up when I heard a woman obviously trying to sound professional, it occurred to me then, that the word ‘use’ would have sufficed. Two that really jarr are ‘myself’ and ‘yourself’. For example, when someone says to me, “send the letter to myself”, “I’ll send the letter to yourself”, it’s very irritating.
I do try to speak correctly and this is something I will definitely remember now, thank you!
Hi Robin,
We are so glad that you enjoyed the blog! Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Would it ever be appropriate to utilize a person? For example I offered my help to someone and was told that they hope the person utilizes me. It does not seem correct when speaking about a person.
Thanks for reaching out! This is a great question. As mentioned in the post, you can always safely count on use. Because utilize should only be used when indicating a creative use, you will mostly want to stick with use when referring to people. This would be a great time to use some of those synomyns we outlined, like apply, employ, and manage. Let us know if you have any other questions or ideas for what you’d like to see us discuss in the future!
I would consider using the word utilize, referring to a person, if I were using them in a manner outside of their intention. For example: I utilized the mailman, making a delivery to my door, to test my surveillance system.
I think you make a distinction without a difference, in that “I used my frying pan as a weapon” carries all the weight of your example. Utilize is simply highfalutin, and should be simply avoided on that ground.
Used can certainly be used in place of utilize!