American English is a rich
language. It’s always changing and evolving. New words and usages come and go.
Many that come along are helpful. They clarify, they improve, they enhance and
enrich.
But some are just plain
stupid.
They obfuscate, they
complicate, they confuse. They reveal a lack of understanding.
One of my favorites is
“readjust.”
Now there’s a word (if it is a word) with absolutely no reason for
being. If something needs to be adjusted, you adjust it. If it needs doing
again, you simply adjust it. You can adjust it again. Then you can adjust it
some more, as often as need be.
Adjust is somewhat related to
“change.” You can change things repeatedly, but no one ever calls it “rechange.”
Same with move. You can move things over and over. But if you “remove” them,
that’s something else altogether.
I am firmly against the use
of “readjust.” And I will remain that way, unless or until I readjust my
thinking.
