Know your English

“Organogram (B. S. Ramaiah, Hyderbad)”

“Only a couple of dictionaries have recorded this word. It means ‘a chart showing graded arrangement of personnel in an organisation’.”

“Missive (S. V. Prasanna, Trivandrum)” “A ‘missive’ is a letter, especially one that is long and serious in tone. It is used jocularly. It also means an official letter.

I received a missive from my wife yesterday.

To the complaint I made, I received a missive from the Municipal Commissioner.

The ‘i’ is pronounced like the ‘i’ in ‘fit.’ The word is pronounced ‘misiv’. The stress is on the first syllable.”

“Fishy (M. L. Muhammadh Haneef, Madurai)”

“‘Fishy’ means ‘tasting or smelling of fish.’

The very air was fishy.

Figuratively, ‘fishy’ means ‘creating doubt or suspicion, questionable.’

He is a fishy character.

His report sounds fishy to me.”

“Procure, purchase (M. Pachaiappan, Neyveli)”

“We buy things, small and big, in exchange for money.

I am going out to buy vegetables. He bought a car last month.

‘Purchase’ implies a transaction of some dignity or importance. You do not purchase vegetables, you buy them.

I want to purchase a flat in this area. She purchased a diamond necklace for her daughter.

‘Buy’ is used with both expensive and inexpensive things. ‘Purchase’ is used only with expensive things. ‘Purchase tax’ is sales tax on nonessential luxury goods. In India, ‘purchase’ as a verb is more often used than ‘buy,’ perhaps because it sounds more impressive. ‘Procure’ means ‘obtain, especially by care or effort.’

Officials have to procure a certain quantity of rice from the farmers in this area.

I was able to procure this rare coin after considerable search.

‘Procure’ implies planning and care. You buy expensive and inexpensive things. You purchase only things of importance. You procure when you buy with care and planning.”

“Madcap (Sunita Chatterjee, Nagpur)” “The word is used as an adjective and a noun. A madcap is not mad, but impulsive and reckless.

I don’t like your madcap scheme.

I am not amused by your madcap adventures.

Published in The Hindu on August 13, 1991.