Caveat....What is its proper use?

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 23 May 2014 06:36:31 -0400

I'm curious to see if anyone else takes exception to people misusing the word Caveat. It amuses me mostly, as well as irritates me sometimes, when people use this word incorrectly. For example...instead of saying "Let me add to that...." I have heard people say "To caveat of that..." Well for one, it is a noun, not a verb. Also, if you want to seem intelligent, do intelligent things. Don't use a word if you don't know what it means. I know, this is more of a rant than anything, but I am interested in seeing if I am being irrational or do others share my sentiment.

If there is misuse of another word that "rubs you the wrong way" feel free to let me know. Maybe I too am guilty of the same thing.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made May 23 at 2014 6:48 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 23 May 2014 06:48:22 -0400

Yeah it sounds silly, but you know what they mean, so just laugh internally and go on about your day. That's what I do.

Response by CPT Jacob Swartout made May 23 at 2014 7:12 AM

CPT Jacob Swartout — Fri, 23 May 2014 07:12:15 -0400

in my last unit at Ft Stewart, you could hear that said about 8-10 times in all meetings. I all for banning it, lol.

Response by PO2 Rocky Kleeger made May 23 at 2014 11:20 AM

PO2 Rocky Kleeger — Fri, 23 May 2014 11:20:27 -0400

If I remember my English vocabulary correctly - and no I'm not going to bother to look it up so someone tell me if I'm wrong - but the word "caveat" means to warn someone one of some specific stipulation. Ie, to caveat on the correct wearing of uniforms in public.

I do have to give a shout out to CPT Swartout, though, I have the same feelings about the term "piggy-back". Every week, we used to have a supervisor's meeting and we would hear that term by one CPO or the other after every person spoke

Response by SFC Cw Stevenson made Jul 10 at 2014 10:23 AM

SFC Cw Stevenson — Thu, 10 Jul 2014 10:23:56 -0400

Yeah people in USAREC always want to "caveat what the commander just said.". I also hear "the caveat to that is it will be a successful event if we give 100%!"...how the hell is caveat=positive effect.

Response by SSG Robin Rushlo made Jul 10 at 2014 11:03 AM

SSG Robin Rushlo — Thu, 10 Jul 2014 11:03:12 -0400

Definition of CAVEAT

1
a : a warning enjoining one from certain acts or practices
b : an explanation to prevent misinterpretation
c : a modifying or cautionary detail to be considered when evaluating, interpreting, or doing something
2
: a legal warning to a judicial officer to suspend a proceeding until the opposition has a hearing
See caveat defined for English-language learners »
Examples of CAVEAT

His investment advice comes with a caveat: that the stock market is impossible to predict with absolute accuracy.
Sound great? There's just one caveat: Knowledge about how genes work is still in the scientific Stone Age. —Andrea Knox, Chicago Tribune, 4 Aug. 2000

Origin of CAVEAT

Latin, let him beware, from cavēre — more at hear
First Known Use: 1533
Other Legal Terms

actionable, alienable, carceral, chattel, complicity, decedent, larceny, malfeasance, modus operandi
Rhymes with CAVEAT

acrobat, aerobat, aerostat, alley cat, apparat, Ararat, arrive at, assignat, autocrat, Automat, bell the cat, big brown bat, bureaucrat,

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 10 at 2014 11:22 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 10 Jul 2014 11:22:09 -0400

Caveat basically is a warning or to take caution. The word itself is likely the most misused word in the military today.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 11 at 2014 9:51 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 11 Jul 2014 09:51:54 -0400

Do we need to enter into a discussion as to how Military language is slightly different than the English language? I can't say as I've ever witnessed its use as the definition states. Personally I cringe every time I hear someone pronounce cache wrong. (its cash, not cashay). I guess there are pet-peaves all around though.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 21 at 2015 9:29 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 21 Aug 2015 09:29:17 -0400

Well people abuse his word all the time. First off they use it as an adjective when it's a noun. You can't caveat something like you can't car or tree something. Second they seem to think it means to add on to what they or someone else had said, it does not. As others have said it's a warning/admonition. So properly used as an example: The roller coaster is fun, bu there should be a caveat for how scary it is.
This word is not the easiest to use in a sentence and is seldom called for. Officers should ban thier junior officers from using it just incase they are briefing a mildly educated group of enlisted.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 4 at 2017 1:39 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 04 Jan 2017 13:39:37 -0500

So with all of the bitching about why and what is being said right and wrong, what are your recommendations?

Response by SFC(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 9 at 2017 1:19 PM

SFC(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 09 Feb 2017 13:19:27 -0500

I asked my dad a retired Senior NCO this question a decade ago...
And Exactly as SSG Robin Rushlo put out. It has several meanings, so just as I read all the comments of this topic so far, I see that different comments explain based on a different meaning.

Now when an officer or an NCO puts out a statement or suspense, then asks...'Any Caveats'?
What they mean is;

With reference to the information I put out...Does anyone have a counter? Does anyone have a misunderstanding or need any clarification or have something to add?
Otherwise hold your peace.

Y'all rock...I really enjoy this Forum.