Jargon of the week: **Operationalise**

Submitted by crinadmin on


The word “operation” has many valid uses, like describing a medical procedure, a mechanical process or a computer function. Its verb form, however, is far more confusing.  For example, if you told someone you were going to "operationalise" today, it might sound more like you were planning an under-cover secret service mission (!) than that you'd be writing a report or designing a study.

In general, adding 'ise' to any noun or adjective (like in "institutionalise", "actualise", "localise", "materialise", and many more) has a tendency to make sentences sound overly technical, and it is often easy to find clear and simple alternatives for such words.  Where possible, you should use these alternatives to more clearly express what you mean.   

For example:

Instead of “operationalising children's rights commitments”, try "meeting these commitments" or "putting them into practice/use”.

Depending on the context, other alternative word choices might include: carry out, execute, make happen.

Organisation: 
Child Rights International Network

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