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[ThePasserby]

The thread on Rite or Right of Annullment prompted me to speak on these two synonymns: certainty and certitude. Let's see what www.dictionary.com says:

Certainty implies a thorough consideration of evidence: "the emphasis of a certainty that is not impaired by any shade of doubt" (Mark Twain). Certitude is based more on personal belief than on objective facts: "Certitude is not the test of certainty" (Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.).
Read more: http://www.answers.c...y#ixzz1IiBZ8jny


The Qunari, including the Arishok and others who admire their philosophy, use the word "certainty". I guess looking at the world from their perspective, everything in life seems to support their point of view - that everything and everyone has his place. They are so indoctrinated from birth to see it this way that except for the Tal Vasholth, every fact of life is in accord with their belief.

For the rest of us, including Hawke, there is no certainty that a woman cannot be a warrior, or that a merchant cannot be a noble. From Hawke's point of view, the Qun philosophy is but a set of beliefs that is hardly supported by any evidence, hence to him, the Qun provides certitude, not certainty.

In short, the Qunari should use the word "certainty" with respect to their Qun beliefs, but for everyone else, they are mere certitudes.

I can't help but cringe each time the two words are used interchangeably in the game.

[David Gaider]

We get frowned at when we use words that cost more than five dollars. Mary once used the word "mendicant", and even though it was wholly appropriate she got glared at. There are some people who think we shouldn't use words that cost more than a buck fifty, but I struggle to accept that.

Mind you, then I see people misusing "irony" and "tragedy" and I cringe, and I wonder just how good a judge I am anymore of what average people should be able to read.

So, yes, technically a word can be correct but, no, that does not mean we can or even should use it.

[David Gaider]

ThePasserby wrote...
Not that Bioware has to take up the cause of enriching its players' vocabulary, but perhaps using words that cost, say, 2 dollars won't be so bad?

That's my view, yes. The bar seems to fluctuate between two dollars and maybe three-fifty. Any more than that and the editors start sending me polite little notes asking what variety of glue I'm on.

Who decides what words are too hard, anyway?

Technically I do, but ultimately I need to contend with QA and Editing when it comes to disagreements on whether the established bar has been exceeded. For me, I'm okay with a slightly more complex word so long as it actually means something different than the simpler one and doesn't sound like we spent too much time on Thesaurus.com.