Ugh - I'm involved in a new project at work where everyone has apparently decided that instead of using the word "presentation" that we all now say and write "presentment." To me, the word presentment has legal connotations and sounds obnoxious and out of place in everyday business use. I know that I have bigger fish to fry but this kind of mindless adoption of jargon drives me nuts.
Does anyone else see this word widely used outside of a legal context? Is it just me who this irks?
I've never seen this word used, legal or otherwise. I googled the word and the definition is for it's use in legal documents. I'm with you. It's not appropriate to use it elsewhere. Makes language too confusing. It also sounds contrived and pretentious.
Presentment is a real word, but I believe they are using it incorrectly. It is not a cool way of saying presentation. A Presentment is something a Grand Jury does when it files inquiry charges. A Presentment can also be a legal document that is a demand for payment. There are other uses as well, but it is not a synonym for presentation.
Is it a real word? Apparently it's definition is only for legal use. Tell 'em to KNOCK IT OFF! Makes you sound pretentious...
My last company (private) bought out one of our largest competitors - we had to fight this kind of language daily - it just wasn't our culture.
I started calling it corpspeak. I found it was used to try to keep things vague.
It is a legal term : the act of presenting to an authority a formal statement of a matter to be dealt with; specifically : the notice taken or statement made by a grand jury of an offense from their own knowledge without a bill of indictment laid before them.
Basically, it is how a grand jury may make a statement without first having to hear an indictment. It is not another word for the kind of presentation you would give when involved in a project.
I'm not in the legal field and have never heard this word. And I'm a huuuuge lifelong reader. I agree with Amanda; sounds pretentious to me. I agree with you!
I have never heard the word. So after looking it up perhaps you should present them with a dictionary cause they are using it wrong!!!! You are right it is a legal term, not a term for a presentation.
Anytime words are created or hijacked for another use it drives me nuts. There was a word used here last night that has been the butt of my jokes since I read it. :p Oh and no it was not in the title of a question.
I've never heard of the word. Granted, I've never worked in the legal field. Watch plenty of law type tv shows, but still don't think I've heard this word. "Presentation" is a word that all people know!
I agree with you. It's ridiculous and actually will make people look pretentious and, frankly, uneducated and ill-informed.
It's used legally, yes, but that's not the only or even "main" context.
World English Dictionary
presentment (prɪˈzɛntmənt)
noun
1. the act of presenting or state of being presented; presentation
2. something presented, such as a picture, play, etc
3. chiefly (US) law a statement on oath by a grand jury of something within their own knowledge or observation, esp the commission of an offence when the indictment has been laid before them
4. commerce the presenting of a bill of exchange, promissory note, etc
Presentment:
1.
a. The act of presenting to view or to the mind.
b. Something expressed, presented, or exhibited.
c. The light in which something is presented.
2. Law
a. The act of submitting or presenting a formal statement of a legal matter to a court or an authorized person.
b. The report written by a grand jury concerning an offense and based on the jury's own knowledge and observation.
3. The act of presenting a bill or note for payment.
I guess if you want to be technical, the use of the word isn't incorrect according to the above definition under #1.
"We invite you to offer your opinions following the completion of our presentment" sounds kind of weird though.
I think most people, even very intelligent and highly qualified business people would think, off hand, that it was a misstatement kind of like someone saying something is a mute point instead of a moot point.
It sounds like trying to be impressive but getting the word wrong.
If you have to go along with it at work, go along with it, but I don't know who thinks it's impressing anyone.
Just my opinion.
You wouldn't by any chance work in public relations, advertising, or media, would you? :) This is a peeve of mine. I just about lost my mind over a project where we had to use the now dime-a-dozen post WWII slang-word, "Ginormous." Ugh. Oh how I hate that word and it's over use.
Until it (presentment) becomes a catch-phrase... er let me rephrase that. IF...it becomes a catch-phrase in the context in which they are trying to use it, the poor soul(s) who must publish or say the word will most certainly appear "dumb" or illiterate. Maybe both. :( The word is so unusual and outside of everyday usage, someone unfamiliar with the campaign will probably try to correct anyone using it outside the office by saying, "Presentment isn't a word. Do you mean presentation?" Ugh.
