QOTD

"The verb ‘orient’ is the correct form of the word, and ‘orientate’ is merely a back-formation of ‘orientation’ which emerged in the early to mid-1800′s in England (about 100 years after the first emergence of ‘orient’, according to Oxford English Dictionary (OED)). According to OED, they both have the same meaning. It seems to me as if the word was created to make the speaker sound smarter through the use of a longer word. Either this or through widespread miseducation. Why dont you say administrate? or reconciliate? or admirate, classificate, combinate, commendate, compilate, condemnate, confirmate, confrontate, or any other number of words that can be back-formed from ‘-ation’ words?"

"That’s because all of these terms are incorrect, like ‘orientation’."

"I am Australian, does anyone else find it interesting that the word is prevalent in England, but is less accepted in the ‘colonies’, i.e. the USA and (to a certain degree) Canada?"

"I cant stand it when people use the word ‘orientate’ instead of orient, and when I hear it used, can't help but think of the speaker as ignorant or pretentious."