The Penultimate Guide to Google Services
"Penultimate" is often used to mean "The Greatest" or "The Best" or "The Last One You'll Ever Need." Unfortunately, that's wrong. You see, penultimate can be used as an adjective that means:
- Next to last
- Of or relating to the penult of a word
Or it can be used as a noun meaning "next to last."
In the scenario above, "The Penultimate Guide to Google Services," what they are effectively saying is "The Second to Last Guide You Will Ever Need to Google Services." What they probably mean to say is "The Last Guide You Will Ever Need to Google Services."
Next time you find yourself about to say or write "penultimate," please stop and think to yourself, "do I mean the best or the second best?" If you mean "the best," please use the word "ultimate." I know it doesn't sound as fancy as penultimate or have as many letters or syllables, even. But, you know, sometimes you have to make sacrifices to be "correct." It's a burden we all share.
Comments
You're absolutely right, and I should have caught that when Jay wrote the article. It's since been changed though, but thanks again.