Can people be “inaugurated”?

Strictly speaking, people cannot be "inaugurated". The word "inauguration" is more related to objects, projects, or roles, and describes the act of officially starting something. If we are referring to the ceremony for a person to take office, it would be more accurate to use expressions such as "taking office", "beginning of the mandate", or "official appointment".

In cases where journalists use "inauguration" for people (e.g., "inauguration of an ambassador" or "inauguration of a director"), it sounds funny and inappropriate, because there are simpler and more accurate words. This is precisely why some news becomes controversial due to incorrect vocabulary that is mechanically copied.

A more appropriate title for people would be:

“Presidential inauguration ceremony”

“Beginning of the new ambassadorial term”

So, in short: No, people are not inaugurated, they take office, start a role, or are appointed to a position!

In the Albanian language dictionary, we find:

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INAUGURIM.

Action according to the meanings of the verbs INAUGUROJ, INAUGUROHET. Inauguration of the factory (of the plant). Inauguration of a new monument. Inauguration of the palace of culture. Inauguration day. Cut the inauguration ribbon. The inauguration took place.

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INAUGUROJ.

I hold an official ceremony when construction begins or when construction of an industrial work, a road, etc., begins an institution, etc.; I celebrate the putting into operation or use of something, I celebrate its beginning; I inaugurate. They inaugurated the plant, the new factory, the theater).

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INAUGURATE

A school (a museum) was inaugurated. A new railway (road) was inaugurated.

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In addition, we have the Albanian word INAUGURATION (Inauguration of a new road, bridge, plant), etc.

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So, it's time to talk about a word that, if it had feelings, would be tired of its misuse. It is about the inappropriate use of the word "inauguration", which sounds like an invitation to drink champagne and to enthusiastically greet the start of work of a factory, project, the start of use of a bridge, road, dam, garden, etc., a word that often falls victim to journalism that is in a hurry and does not delve into what this or that word means.

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"Inauguration" is a word that comes from the Latin word "inauguration", which was originally related to the interpretation of signs (astrology) and is today used to describe the official opening of something, usually something big or important like a new bridge, an exhibition, a factory, a school, etc., but when today's journalism is in a hurry to present something as if it is grand, the word "inauguration" ends up in situations that make even astrologers laugh.

In the case of Albanian journalists, they have nothing they don't borrow, except critical thinking. "Inauguration", which seems to be and should be the magic word for any kind of event that involves scissors and a ribbon, in fact degenerates into a ceremony for the assumption of office, of a president, be it the President of the United States, while it should also be used for the opening of a well in a remote village where there has been no water for years, or for the opening of a pie shop that has changed owners, especially when the tourists who are flocking to Albania fill their bellies with pie and buttermilk.

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Why is this word misused?

? Copy & paste: Journalists often take news from foreign sources and, instead of examining the content, translate it as it is, including inserting meaningless words.

? Grandeur: “Inauguration” sounds beautiful, serious, and sophisticated. This probably gives journalists the feeling that they are reporting on something of extraordinary importance.

? Misunderstanding the correct meaning of the term: For some, any kind of opening ceremony, whether it is a neighborhood event or a national or international event, deserves the word “inauguration.”

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In some cases, journalists report that “The new onion packaging center was inaugurated”, “The fifth mobile phone service store was inaugurated”, “The new clock in the municipal offices was inaugurated”, etc., when this should have been built, invested in and done long ago. These types of “inaugurations” no longer constitute news and on the other hand, the word “inauguration” should be treated with caution.

It is not a synonym for “opening” or “inauguration” for everything. Sometimes, a ribbon cutting and a warm applause can be enough, without the need to include “inauguration” in the headline of the news.

Journalists, stop and think within your means! Is this really the right word? Or do you risk inaugurating the wrong news? Why not open a dictionary before publicly announcing an “inauguration” that the word itself and the person itself would never accept?

This would undoubtedly be a new opening. A new beginning. It would be the beginning of the “inauguration” of logic.

The word “inauguration”, has nothing correct and in accordance with the context, is technically incorrect for the official ceremony of taking office by a president and on the other hand carries a nuance of “pomp” and formality that can make this word sound a bit funny to some people, especially in the Albanian context, where the word is often mixed with more ordinary or artificially inflated situations.

Instead, expressions such as “taking office”, “the ceremony of passing power”, or “the beginning of the new mandate” can be used, which are simpler words, much clearer and that avoid the feeling of excessive grandeur that the word “inauguration” carries, but which even Trump himself would not like.

In the case of President Trump, the headline could be:

? “Donald Trump Officially Takes Office as the 47th President of the United States”

? “Inauguration Ceremony: Trump Officially Begins Presidential Term”

? “President Trump’s Inauguration: Here’s What Happened During the Ceremony”

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Using words that are closer to everyday language avoids excessive formality and can make the article more understandable and relatable to the reader. The word “inauguration” sounds heavy and pompous, while a more common expression is often enough to convey the idea without unnecessary fuss.