use vs. usage vs. utilization
use vs. utilize

Any rules for which are appropriate in which situations?

Here's what the Atomica thesaurus has to say:

usage
noun

A habitual way of behaving : consuetude, custom, habit, habitude, manner, practice, praxis, usance, use, way, wont.

A quantity consumed : consumption, use.

The act of putting into play : application, employment, exercise, exertion, implementation, operation, play, use, utilization.

utilization
noun

The condition of being put to use : application, duty, employment, service, use.

The act of putting into play : application, employment, exercise, exertion, implementation, operation, play, usage, use.


They overlap a lot. I use 'usage' for 'habitual use', e.g. 'normal usage of the English language', and 'utilization' for 'putting into play', e.g. 'utilization of local knowledge'. I would say, if in doubt utilizing 'use' would be acceptable usage.

and a side question... In general, when is it more appropriate to use the '-age' form of words? (for example, percent vs. percentage)

Harking back to 'use', 'usage' etc., You might find this reference useful.

As for part 2, the -age suffix, all the words of that kind I can think of (percentage, mileage, acreage, wordage and the like) mean unspecified amounts that can be reckoned in that unit of measurement. 'A high percentage' is simply a large but unspecified number per cent (i.e. of hundredths). It's a generalisation, whereas say 79 per cent is a precise number.

'Lineage' is an odd one. As 'line-age' it's a number of lines, but as 'lin-e-age' it's the nobility of one's ancestors!

Thanks Ewood. That's pretty much how I instinctively use them; it's good to know that I've been using them correctly.