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Author Topic: "Preventive" or "Preventative"? Joe Redifer You need a beating today Posts: 12859 From: Denver, Colorado Registered: May 99 posted 05-18-2004 03:00 PM                        When you say something ridiculous like "preventive maintenance", do you say "pre-ven-tive" or "pre-ven-ta-tive"? I had never heard "preventative" until a few months ago when I was recording and editing a voiceover at work. The guy said "preventative" while recording and I missed it. I was editing the dialog later and came across it. The script said "preventive", so I edited his word down so it sounded like he just naturally said "preventive" in the first place. I felt no need for the unnecessary extra syllable. I mean seriously, what the hell? I thought maybe he had some sort of mental deficiency. It turns out that he indeed did, but that's another story. Apparently both ways of saying it are correct. What a country!  |  IP: Logged Jeremy Fuentes Mmmm, Dr. Pepper! Posts: 1168 From: Corpus Christi, TX United States Registered: Jan 2004 posted 05-18-2004 03:17 PM                     Preventative just doesnt sound right at all. It's stupid. I dont have time for the extra syllable.  |  IP: Logged Jack Ondracek Film God Posts: 2348 From: Port Orchard, WA, USA Registered: Oct 2002 posted 05-18-2004 03:38 PM                        The words are not interchangeable, though our current generation's sloppy use of grammar seems to make it so. Maintenance, done to prevent failures is "preventive". A substance, applied to decking to prevent rot is a "preventative". Good catch, Joe.  |  IP: Logged Leo Enticknap Film God Posts: 7474 From: Loma Linda, CA Registered: Jul 2000 posted 05-18-2004 04:32 PM                        From Chambers' Dictionary (1994 ed.): quote: adj preven'tive or (by irregular formation) preven'tative tending to prevent or hinder; prophylactic; concerned with the prevention of smuggling (hist), - n that which prevents; a prophylactic. - adv prevent'tively. n preven'tiveness. preventive detention prolonged imprisonment, with corrective training, for persistent or dangerous offenders of 30 or over for periods of from 5 to 14 years. I don't have the full Chambers (only the abridged one, without full etymology), but would hazard a guess at the etymology being Latin - prae (before); and the verb venire to come or proceed. Michael will probably tear me to shreds over this!  |  IP: Logged Phil Hill I love my cootie bug Posts: 7595 From: Hollywood, CA USA Registered: Mar 2000 posted 05-18-2004 04:39 PM                  Hey! I'yam in diz currant generasion and I ain't got no slopy nor purr grammers, the englush isa not conphuzing. I hav too go now sinse i hav too *polish* me shuz fer me sizter *Polish* wed ding. (Yeah, good catch, Joe! But, ya can say it either way.) >>> Phil  |  IP: Logged Randy Stankey Film God Posts: 6539 From: Erie, Pennsylvania Registered: Jun 99 posted 05-18-2004 04:52 PM                     According to Dictionary.com, "PreventATive" is a (nonstandard) variant of "Preventive". I assume that this is a similar situation as the words "Flammable" and "Inflammable"... Both meaning, "Something that burns easily." Although, "Flammable" actually means, "Something that can easily be set aflame.", whereas "Inflammable" actually means, "Something that is easily inflamed." To put it another way, they are two words with slightly different origins (derived from different languages) which have converging meanings. As a matter of fact, Oxford English Dictionary shows about the same relationship between the words: Preventive PreventATive  |  IP: Logged Leo Enticknap Film God Posts: 7474 From: Loma Linda, CA Registered: Jul 2000 posted 05-18-2004 05:08 PM                        So both (dictionary.com and Chambers) agree with Joe - the extra syllable ain't necessary, and does not add any specific meaning.  |  IP: Logged Scott Norwood Film God Posts: 8146 From: Boston, MA. USA (1774.21 miles northeast of Dallas) Registered: Jun 99 posted 05-18-2004 05:26 PM                        Thanks to Joe et al. for bringing this up. The use of "preventative" to mean "preventive" is a pet peeve of mine.  |  IP: Logged Michael Schaffer "Where is the Boardwalk Hotel?" Posts: 4143 From: Boston, MA Registered: Apr 2002 posted 05-18-2004 05:40 PM                        Dr Leo is right. To prevent comes from praevenire=to come before.  |  IP: Logged Mark Gulbrandsen Resident Trollmaster Posts: 16657 From: Music City Registered: Jun 99 posted 05-18-2004 10:24 PM                     "Hey! I'yam in diz currant generasion and I ain't got no slopy nor purr grammers, the englush isa not conphuzing. I hav too go now sinse i hav too *polish* me shuz fer me sizter *Polish* wed ding." OK Joe, get hold of Fil if ya needs to knou what it say. Mark  |  IP: Logged Phil Hill I love my cootie bug Posts: 7595 From: Hollywood, CA USA Registered: Mar 2000 posted 05-18-2004 10:42 PM                  Dear Diary: I HATE Mark! (BUT! The JEN is HOT!) And Jen, I'm headed to Texas and NEED a place to stay for a "night".... Can we hook up again? >>> Phil  |  IP: Logged Jennifer Pan THE JEN! Posts: 1219 From: Denver, Colorado Registered: Nov 2003 posted 05-18-2004 11:09 PM                        ummm... Phil, I be at AZ now... So I think yo planz to c the hippinator haz been terminated.  |  IP: Logged Phil Hill I love my cootie bug Posts: 7595 From: Hollywood, CA USA Registered: Mar 2000 posted 05-18-2004 11:16 PM                  Oh No Jen! I'm heart-broken! I am traveling on US-10 and was hoping to at least meet you! And Yes! While in Texas, I will be staying with Chris...Hubba Hubba! >>> Phil  |  IP: Logged Jennifer Pan THE JEN! Posts: 1219 From: Denver, Colorado Registered: Nov 2003 posted 05-18-2004 11:21 PM                        Awww how cute ... I think it was meant to be... (I think its wonderful to see Film-Techers hook up. You have my blissings Phil... "Phil and Chris seating in a tree... K.I.S.S.I.N.G") Hmmm... My place is a couple blocks from US-10.... "Should I meet Phil?"  |  IP: Logged Jeremy Fuentes Mmmm, Dr. Pepper! Posts: 1168 From: Corpus Christi, TX United States Registered: Jan 2004 posted 05-18-2004 11:24 PM                     no.  |  IP: Logged

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