The Words to be Used

conversational freedom allows the w ord reasonably to mean something

like moderately (Im reasonably certain about it) until its connotation
deteriorates finally into something like rather and we find in print: The
details are reasonably sketchy at the m om ent.
mean
In dealing w ith matters o f cause, result and effect, there is now a tendency
to fall back too often on the w ord m ean. Throughout this book usage
o f the w ord in its strictest connotation is bound to be frequent. We must
repeatedly observe that a given w ord m eans this and does not m ean
that. It is by a natural and logical development that we arrive at such
conversational usages as That sky means theres rain ahead or even the
m ore idiomatic That fellow means business. However, popular usage
now drags the verb into contexts where it merely draws attention to the
paucity o f vocabulary in the w riters grasp.
The hillside location of this hotel means there are wonderful views of the
town and harbour.
The w riter is here concerned, not w ith a'm atter o f meaning, but w ith a
matter o f cause and effect. It w ould be m uch better to say: Because o f
its hillside location, this hotel has w onderful views o f the tow n and
harbour. There is a similar causal function in the w ord m ean in:
Recent developments in surgical practice mean that patients are not required
to stay in hospital overnight.
Clearly it w ould be m ore precise to say: As a result o f recent developments
in surgical practice patients are not required to stay in hospital overnight.
And the following advice, given to young w om en about their appearance
w hen they are going to be interviewed, stretches the idiomatic usage
further.
If in doubt, dress up rather than down - even if the job youre going for
doesnt mean looking smart.
Our objection to the usage is that it over-uses a m uch over-used verb,
and also that it is imprecise, w hen what is really meant is: even if the
job youre going for doesnt require you to look particularly sm art. It is
after all the possible requirem ent presented by the employer or the post
that is at issue.