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Previous Thread Next Thread Print Thread actionable #17563 01/29/2001 1:33 PM Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 20 Maryland garynamy stranger garynamy stranger Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 20 Maryland I work at a very large Fortune 500 company (whose name you may be able to guess if you can see my e-mail address). Various higher-ups here, including the son of the CEO are using the word 'actionable' in a way I find irritating. To me, 'actionable' means something like 'an adjective decribing a thing you do that you could get sued about.' Not around here. In corporate-speak, it's closer to 'possible to do.' So an 'actionable agenda' would one that employees (associates, at this company) could pick up and do, as contrasted with one that's more strategic or intellectual in nature. Is there anything wrong with this? Am I behind the times? Is 'doable' any better as an alternative? gs Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: actionable #17564 01/29/2001 2:10 PM Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 1,773 Sparteye Pooh-Bah Sparteye Pooh-Bah Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 1,773 garynamy, the only definition my American Heritage gives is "giving cause for legal action." I've never heard the term used to mean anything else (but, I work in the law, so my view may be skewed). It sounds to me like this use of "actionable" is brought to us by the same corporate-speak folks who brought us "incent." Good luck trying to kill it. Let's help garynamy by giving him a pithy alternative. Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: actionable #17565 01/29/2001 2:36 PM Joined: Dec 2000 Posts: 130 Virginia Solamente, Doug. member Solamente, Doug. member Joined: Dec 2000 Posts: 130 Virginia I loathe corporate jargon. What's wrong with using a plain and simple word like realistic to describe a 'doable' or 'actionable' project? Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: actionable #17566 01/29/2001 9:01 PM Joined: Sep 2000 Posts: 347 Melbourne, Australia Marty enthusiast Marty enthusiast Joined: Sep 2000 Posts: 347 Melbourne, Australia feasible? Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: actionable #17567 01/29/2001 9:06 PM Joined: Sep 2000 Posts: 347 Melbourne, Australia Marty enthusiast Marty enthusiast Joined: Sep 2000 Posts: 347 Melbourne, Australia ...or achievable? Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: actionable #17568 02/01/2001 6:17 PM Joined: Jul 2000 Posts: 3,467 Marion NC TEd Remington Carpal Tunnel TEd Remington Carpal Tunnel Joined: Jul 2000 Posts: 3,467 Marion NC or attainable TEd Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: actionable #17569 02/02/2001 2:36 AM Joined: Sep 2000 Posts: 2,891 belMarduk Carpal Tunnel belMarduk Carpal Tunnel Joined: Sep 2000 Posts: 2,891 If you work in a big company you probably have a bulletin board. You should photocopy the definition of the word in your dictionary, enlarge it, highlight it, then post it under the heading What word have YOU used incorrectly today? Make sure the heading is very visible (I suggest 60 points if using Times New Roman). Works every time. Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter What word have YOU used incorrectly today? #17570 02/02/2001 2:01 PM Joined: Mar 2000 Posts: 1,981 jmh Pooh-Bah jmh Pooh-Bah Joined: Mar 2000 Posts: 1,981 Wonderful idea Bel And your consultancy fee for such advice is ....? Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Moderated by  Jackie  Hop To General Topics ------  Information and announcements  Q&A about words  Wordplay and fun  Words and languages in schools  Miscellany  Weekly Themes  Looking for (writers, speakers,... (Old) Weekly themes. (have been... ------  Words from medicine  Beheading words  Meta-words  Words from classical mythology  Animal Safari  Words with unusual etymologies  Eponyms or words derived from p...  Loanwords from German  English as a global language Print Thread Switch to Threaded Mode Show Likes Link Copied to Clipboard View Profile Private Message Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary View Profile Private Message Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary View Profile Private Message Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary View Profile Private Message Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary View Profile Private Message Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary View Profile Private Message Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary View Profile Private Message Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary View Profile Private Message Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary

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