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Are Your Products Ubiquitous or Everywhere?

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Lynn Gaertner-Johnston Updated on

Last week I worked with a group of corporate communicators at a global high-tech company headquartered in Washington, D.C. One of the group was being teased by his colleagues for using the word ubiquitous, well, ubiquitously. He used it everywhere.

I asked the writer, whom I will call Tom, whether by ubiquitous he meant "everywhere." He agreed. "Then why not use everywhere?" I asked. Tom told me that ubiquitous meant something different, and the distinction was important to him.

But would the distinction be important to the readers of Tom's articles, blog posts, newsletters, web pages, and Facebook entries? I don't think so. I am guessing that the information gatherers skimming Tom's work would understand everywhere perfectly, whereas ubiquitous might slow them down. 

I also noticed a statement from President Obama on the radio. He was responding to a question about possible health care plans in the United States. He said, in part, "That is the trajectory we are on."

The President was talking about health care–not rockets. I wondered why he didn't say, "That is the path we are on." I assume that the President, similar to Tom, believes that trajectory has a meaning that path does not, and I agree with him. But is trajectory the right word for a communication meant for a huge, broad audience? No, I don't agree with that.

When corporate communicators are writing for potential investors, ubiquitous may be the appropriate word, but so may be everywhere. When the U.S. President is being interviewed with an audience as large as the stars, trajectory may be the best word, but so may be path.

I like to choose the simplest, accurate word so that the largest number of people will understand. Which words do you choose?

Lynn
Syntax Training

Posted by Lynn Gaertner Johnson
By Lynn Gaertner-Johnston

Lynn Gaertner-Johnston has helped thousands of employees and managers improve their business writing skills and confidence through her company, Syntax Training. In her corporate training career of more than 20 years, she has worked with executives, engineers, scientists, sales staff, and many other professionals, helping them get their messages across with clarity and tact.

A gifted teacher, Lynn has led writing classes at more than 100 companies and organizations such as MasterCard, Microsoft, Boeing, Nintendo, REI, AARP, Ledcor, and Kaiser Permanente. Near her home in Seattle, Washington, she has taught managerial communications in the MBA programs of the University of Washington and UW Bothell. She has created a communications course, Business Writing That Builds Relationships, and provides the curriculum at no cost to college instructors.

A recognized expert in business writing etiquette, Lynn has been quoted in "The Wall Street Journal," "The Atlantic," "Vanity Fair," and other media.

Lynn sharpened her business writing skills at the University of Notre Dame, where she earned a master's degree in communication, and at Bradley University, with a bachelor's degree in English. She grew up in suburban Chicago, Illinois.

4 comments on “Are Your Products Ubiquitous or Everywhere?”

  • In the context of business writing, what you say makes sense. It also makes sense in academic writing, though it is ignored even more there than in business.

    However, I would not think it should be a general rule for all writing. What if Shakespeare had always “choosen the simplest accurate word so that the largest number of people will understand”? If he had done that, I don’t think we’d know who he was today. One of the beauties of the English language is its depth and color, much of which is lost if all language is reduced to the common denominator. In many cases a more precise word is to be preferred over a simpler word.

  • I totally agree with you! As a marketing communication writer I’m presented with this kind of word choice battle daily. The one we fight most often is “utilize” vs “use.” Yes, “utilize” has its place, but it’s a far smaller place than most people would like to believe 🙂

    Thanks for the wonderful articles!

    Best,

    Tom Jordan
    Sr. Marketing Communications Writer [name of company withheld]

  • Tom, I appreciate the way you wrote about the place of “utilize”: “it’s a far smaller place than most people would like to believe.” How true!

    I virtually never use “utilize” or “utilization.” I grant that “utilization” has its place in some industries, for example, hospitals, which do “utilization review.”

    Thanks for stopping by.

    Lynn

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