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I was alive when attempting suicide was still a crime (obviously, you can't be prosecuted for succeeding!). For me, the word "suicide" has connotations of wrongdoing, like "homicide" and "patricide".

Younger generations may not be so aware of those connotations.

For me, "commit" doesn't have connotations of wrongdoing, unless it's a matter of a bad commit that breaks the build. "Death by suicide" doesn't name an act; it's a verdict.



Interesting. I'm from the same era and have the opposite opinion. To me the word "commit" implies legality, "death by suicide" seems factual and without judgement.

The Centre for Suicide Prevention seems to agree. Not only in this article (https://www.suicideinfo.ca/local_resource/suicideandlanguage...) but also in their usage of "suicide" in the very name of the organization.

What word would suggest in place of "suicide"?




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