It really irks me to come across word or phrase substitutions where they’re not appropriate. Even if two words or phrases mean the same thing, their usage may not be appropriate the same context. It’s even worse when someone uses such a substitution in an attempt to sound sophisticated.
For example, from an article in the SF Chronicle:
DNA tests of a swab of semen taken during an autopsy of the girl’s body at the time of the killing matched Speer’s genetic fingerprint.
Yes, DNA is a “genetic fingerprint”, but come on, that’s just a dumbed-down buzzword. It makes the biologist in me cringe, and it probably makes those not in the know confused. Failed attempt at word-dropping indeed!
But it doesn’t end there. Word-dropping aside, the science is wrong. Either that or the grammar is wrong. As it stands, the above sentence equates “DNA tests” with “genetic fingerprint”. DNA makes up the “genetic fingerprint”; “DNA tests” generate the results that help you distinguish one fingerprint from another. Please, if you’re going to word-drop, at least be accurate about it!
Okay, and you’re all laughing at me, because why should I care? I don’t know why. I just do. I had the same problem with X-Files. It was a great show that tried to incorporate lots of cool science, but they’d always get the details wrong. At least Scully didn’t try to buzzword-drop us to death.
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