When I Say “ish”

Published by

Lem Usita

on

July 29, 2011

……..what I am doing is not taking responsibility for what ever it is that I am saying.
– I’ll be there at 10ish
– It will be warmish
– It’s kinda close-ish

If you live in southern California, you can sometimes blame the traffic to you get you there in time-ish. A friend pointed out that I had said it a few times in a post and it made me think about why I say it. I came to the conclusion that It’s a way to approximate, but then also relieve yourself of your word.

It’s definitely a personality thing – I don’t want any pilot or engineer to be okay with close enough-ish. They need to be precise.

I will watch how I use the word ish. Do you use the word-ish?

5 responses to “When I Say “ish””

Lani Pagmanua

July 29, 2011

Well put and well defined, my friend! Haha…I totally agree (not kinda agree-ish) that it’s a term we all use to “approximate” but not to totally commit. Good night…I guess this ISH the end…=)

Reply
@drewcarpenter

July 30, 2011

That is funny. I use ish way too often as well. I agree that precise is right. Goes right along with brevity. Glad I saw your post.

Reply
1. Lem Usita
  
  July 30, 2011
  
  Thanks for checking it out Drew. I’ll check out your blog as well.
  
  Reply
Debbie Dawnslight

July 30, 2011

Good post! It’s funny, I also thought of the “kinda…”, as Lani Pagmanua wrote in his comment.
In Hebrew teens (well, mostly teens) used to add “kinda” in front of almost anything. I used to ask in response – “plastic or for real?” It sounds better in Hebrew…

When I learned to be a medic, we had to do extremely well on everything. Anyone who couldn’t stand the pressure didn’t make it. They didn’t want someone who has a certificate for CPR-ish…

As I said, good point! You really write well. I’m still ish… :))

Reply
1. Lem Usita
  
  July 30, 2011
  
  Thanks for the comment. Thanks for reading. I appreciate it very much.
  It’s just random ideas, and It’s great when others can relate. Do you have a blog?
  
  Reply