A&O - orientated or oriented?

How do you say / write your level of orientation? This is one of those things that's been on my mind... and the dictionaries appear to be OK with either.

Oriented or orientated?
Reoriented or reorientated?

I'm just curious - not sure if it's a regional thing or a personal preference.

Thanks!
i know the dictionary says either is okay, but i think that "orientated" sounds completely stupid and uneducated, like someone is making up a word in order to sound smart. i want to cringe any time i hear someone say it. my husband teaches languages and has an english degree, and he says orientated may be technically correct, but he would count it as incorrect in an essay.use what you want, or what it appears everyone around you uses. either is okay, apparently, but how often do you hear the physicians use the word "orientated"? how often do you hear "orientated" used vs "oriented" in edited or educated language, either written or spoken?edited to add:this is what wikipedia's dictionary has to say about orientate:etymologyorient +‎ -ate[edit] verbinfinitiveto orientatethird person singularorientatessimple pastorientatedpast participleorientatedpresent participleorientatingto orientate (third-person singular simple present orientates, present participle orientating, simple past and past participle orientated)<li sizcache="0" sizset="4">(british) (transitive) to determine one's position relative to the surroundings; to orient he…stood for a moment, orientating himself exactly in the light of his knowledge.—john le carr� he came out of the station and took some time to orientate himself.(british) (intransitive) to turn to face the east[edit] usage notesthe term is in wide colloquial use in the uk, although the oxford english dictionary does not define it, simply stating that it is another form of orient.[1] it is widely considered an error in american english.[2] prescriptivists criticize it as a backformation from orientation (compare interpretate from interpretation);[3][4] it is attested since the mid-19th century.[edit] synonymsto orient

There is no such word as "orientated". There never has been. It has always sounded so odd to me to hear nurses say a patient is "orientated" or a nurse is being "Orientated". There is "orientation", which is a state of being "oriented",or a program designed to familiarize people to an organization's way of doing things. The pronounciation is "orey-in-ted". I have never figured out why everyone says "orientated".

according to webster,the verbs orient and orientate are synonymous. :d

Yup, drives me nuts, too. So does "disrespected" " as in "I was disrespected" versus "disrespectful" as in "she is disrespectful to her elders". Don't know why, it just bugs me...mc3

Orientate was not an actual word until it became so widely (mis)used that it was adopted by the various powers-that-be.To me, it's in the same category of butchering the English language as irregardless.

I agree, "orientated" sounds stupid, please don't use it!

Quote from flmom3i agree, "orientated" sounds stupid, please don't use it!

orientedit used to bother me when people said "orientated"

Also, orientate's description is "to orientate" as in orientating a new nurse NOT for alert and oriented patient.....

Quote from jmtndlThere is no such word as "orientated". There never has been. It has always sounded so odd to me to hear nurses say a patient is "orientated" or a nurse is being "Orientated". There is "orientation", which is a state of being "oriented",or a program designed to familiarize people to an organization's way of doing things. The pronounciation is "orey-in-ted". I have never figured out why everyone says "orientated".

"Also, orientate's description is "to orientate" as in orientating a new nurse NOT for alert and oriented patient..... "Please, no. Just use the word "orient." It is the technically correct verb.

Quote from roser13Orientate was not an actual word until it became so widely (mis)used that it was adopted by the various powers-that-be.To me, it's in the same category of butchering the English language as irregardless.