Isolate sounds sadder, probably. Social distancing sounds hip and trendier. “Like, you guys, I am social distancing, okay?” is an easier sell than, “I intend to isolate in my home” which a liberal would think sounds like a loser hermit.
You’re right. It irks me more than it should, but it’s basically the same difference - right? I mean, why did we coin an awkward term when we already have a word that works perfectly fine? Yet another example of decadence in the English language.
Isolate sounds sadder, probably. Social distancing sounds hip and trendier. “Like, you guys, I am social distancing, okay?” is an easier sell than, “I intend to isolate in my home” which a liberal would think sounds like a loser hermit.
You’re right. It irks me more than it should, but it’s basically the same difference - right? I mean, why did we coin an awkward term when we already have a word that works perfectly fine? Yet another example of decadence in the English language.
It irks me too. It's weird how they do that.