Pro- active Surely this is an annoying Americanism?

[Beatrice35]

Hate the word Pro- active more than any other buzz word that has infiltrated into the English language over from the pond to us in the UK!! The word it replaces is a much better word, too- Dynamic! Dynamism, Dynamic or Dynamically are all words which sound fantastic plus make more sense than the stupid American buzz word everyone seems to be using these days that fear the word Dynamic will fall out of use because of the stupid word Proactive- which think was invented as by a marketing or business man in the USA. The USA like to reinvent the wheel- it maddens me!! Does anyone else agree? Ciao, Beatrice35

[chrisrob]

Our language is littered with foreign imports which makes it so rich and vibrant. Although nota fan of "Pro-active", I do regard it as having slightly different meaning to "Dynamic". I read pro-active as ready to act whereas dynamic means already acting: the difference between potential and kinetic energy. But if you don't like foreign words, we usually have various equivalents of Romanic or Anglo Saxon origin.
Ciao?

[Beatrice35]

Our language is littered with foreign imports which makes it so rich and vibrant- Agree, yet many American words take away this vibrancy. Although nota fan of "Pro-active", I do regard it as having slightly different meaning to "Dynamic"- respectfully disagree. I read pro-active as ready to act whereas dynamic means already acting: the difference between potential and kinetic energy- disagree with you there. People say pro active to mean let us be forward thinking or forward acting which dynamic fit this description perfectly. If people say we need to be more pro-active then they really need to say we need to be more dynamic or we need more dynamism here!! Love foreign words, for sure. In fact love languages- particularly Spanish and Italian!! Just do not like American buzz words that sound naff plus a better word already exists in their place in the English language.
Kind regards, Beatrice35

[another-view]

It's about as much difference as an oblong and a rectangle. If nobody embraced new words, we would still be going around with our "Verily" and "Forsooth".

Times move on.

[Beatrice35]

Embrace new words by all means yet not naff ones that are made up by stupid American business bafoons! Some of the archaic words are fantastic- would love them to make a comeback actually!! Your point is a little bizarre!! Dynamic is a proper word that even sounds good on the tongue yet everyone wants to use the new word that sounds ridiculous just because it is trendy! Thank goodness never been a slave to fashion when it comes to words or anything else for that matter. Old fashioned through and through. Though, saying this, would embrace something new even a word if it had merit- so not a stick in the mud just a woman of dynamic principles!!

[another-view]

And two hundred years ago, I dare say people had a similar conversation:

"Gadzooks is a proper word that even sounds good on the tongue yet everyone wants to use the new word "Gosh" that sounds ridiculous just because it is trendy!"

[Beatrice35]

If something is not broke do not fix it- a very good motto!! Time moves on reminds me that need to have some lunch right now!! Do embrace new words as well as new concepts providing that they make sense plus have a valid use not already there. Like they say on Dragon's Den when a ridiculous idea comes to them, You are re-inventing the wheel and for that reason I am out. Over and out now- need to feed body as well as mind! Ciao, Beatrice35

[another-view]

If everyone had your opinion, we would still be living in caves chipping flint.

[Beatrice35]

One can embrace the wisdoms of the past with the innovations/wisdoms of the present- something I advocate! If you do not see one without the other you are looking through a misted up pair of glasses! Love the wisdoms of all the Inidigenous tribes for instance. Am not in a cave with flint as you put it- are you in cave as your comment need some light as well as shade methinks!
Over and out!

[chrisrob]

proactive actually entered English language in the 1930's.

Difference between rectangle and oblong. Rectangle can be a square or an oblong. An oblong cannot be a square and a square cannot be an oblong.

[another-view]

OK flammable and inflammable then or "large and big" or even "small, tiny, minute, miniscule, little". All different words for the same thing.

[chrisrob]

I think it's great we have so many pseudonyms in our language: settee and sofs, lounge and sitting room, pudding and dessert, napkin and serviette...
Sometimes our choice of words reflects our backgrounds and culture sometimes subtle differences make for slight in meaning.

[chrisrob]

Sorry that last reply was rushed and contains typos.

[Beatrice35]

ChrisRob- thanks for the input, truly. Just want to say that the idiot who tried with this word in the 1930's did not suceed in bringing it to the masses yet some other idiot has very sadly suceeded with this absurd sounding term recently! He did not suceed in the 1930's as they had more sense then, for sure!! Little care where the word originated, only want to banish it into room 101 for all time!! Some words are ugly sounding. Some are offensive. Some are in both camps- Proactive being one of them!
Can anyone here see that Dynamic is a better sounding word? Does anyone here dare to be dynamic by daring to be different? Well, I will move to the beat of a different drum. By the way, the view from here is sublime! Ciao all! Have a wonderfully blessed Tuesday, too ;-) Beatrice35

[Beatrice35]

What is dynamically wonderful is that many people have commented on this thread. Matters not if am alone in opinion or have any support- this is immaterial mostly, what matters is that many people have a view on this topic!
Remember one day setting up a hornets nest then walking away whilst the conversation ardently continued- all about women in the priesthood( was in favour of women priests)- it was marvellous! Thank every one of you for participating here ;-) Have a most dynamic Tuesday people!

[swedeheart]

I remember looking for this word for years before I found it. I'm a Swede and we have an old word meaning the same thing, but it wasn't in my Swedish to English dictionary and it was very frustrating, because it's a word which holds a lot of meaning and when you have to paraphrase it the whole sentence gets very clumsy. So I was delighted to finally find it and "dynamic" does not suffice.

Pro-active: (of a policy or person or action) controlling a situation by causing something to happen rather than waiting to respond after it happens

Pro-active: (psychology) descriptive of any event or stimulus or process that has an effect on events or stimuli or processes that occur subsequently

Dynamic sounds better, I agre, but they are not synonymous.

[Beatrice35]

When you are dynamic you do cause something to happen.
As for psychology, as a former psychiatric nurse much of psychology/psychiatry is not dynamic in its treatment of patients or in its thinking.
You are entitled to your opinion, yet, do not believe that one ever needs the P word in one's language.
Ciao, Beatrice35

[Beatrice35]

Main Entry: 1dy�nam�ic
Pronunciation: \dī-ˈna-mik\
Function: adjective
Etymology: French dynamique, from Greek dynamikos powerful, from dynamis power, from dynasthai to be able
Date: 1799
This is from an online Merriam Webster dicitonary. Dynamic is the power to make thing happen. Power to be able!

[Beatrice35]

dynamic Definition
dy�namic (dī nam′ik)

adjective

relating to an object, or objects, in motion
energetic; vigorous; forceful
relating to or tending toward change or productive activity
Comput.
designating or of an event that occurs during the execution of a program dynamic dump
designating or of memory that requires periodic renewal of its stored data
Electronics designating or of a speaker, microphone, etc. in which a diaphragm or cone is attached to a coil that vibrates within a fixed magnetic field
Etymology: Fr dynamique < Gr dynamikos < dynamis, power, strength < dynasthai, to be able
dynamic Synonyms
dynamic
modif.

energetic, vigorous, active, powerful, potent, compelling, forceful, changing, progressive, productive, magnetic, electric, vibrant, effective, influential, charismatic, high-powered, peppy*, hopped up*, hyped up*; see also active 2, powerful 1.

Taken from:- http://www.yourdictionary.com/dynamic

[swedeheart]

Yes Beatrice those words speak partly of the same thing but not entirely. Someone who is pro-active is probably dynamic. It doesn't thereby follow that someone who is dynamic is necessarily pro-active. But I do share your love for the word dynamic, it's a good word, it even springs off the tongue.

[Beatrice35]

dy�nam�ic (d-nmk)
adj. also dy�nam�i�cal (--kl)
1.
a. Of or relating to energy or to objects in motion.
b. Of or relating to the study of dynamics.
2. Characterized by continuous change, activity, or progress: a dynamic market.
3. Marked by intensity and vigor; forceful. See Synonyms at active.
4. Of or relating to variation of intensity, as in musical sound.
n.
1. An interactive system or process, especially one involving competing or conflicting forces: "the story of a malign dynamic between white prejudice and black autonomy" Edmund S. Morgan.
2. A force, especially political, social, or psychological: the main dynamic behind the revolution.

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[French dynamique, from Greek dunamikos, powerful, from dunamis, power, from dunasthai, to be able; see deu-2 in Indo-European roots.]

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/dynamic