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"grok" implies a deep understanding, much more so than "reason about".

"Grok" is good. Perhaps it's that it sounds less pretentious, somehow?

Interesting! I have somehow developed the opposite opinion. The phrase "to reason" is plain English and uncomplicated. Grok, by comparison, is arcane and to the uninitiated is semantically opaque. The latter strikes me as a more suitable vehicle for demonstrating pretension.

Fair enough. I never claimed my dislike of "reasoning about" things was rational! 'Grok' definitely has a context, that likely does not include talking to non-hacker types like clients, board members, or whatever.

I understand your situation :) I keep a long list of seemingly innocuous words which, through no fault of their own, are repugnant to my ears. It's utterly irrational.

"Reason about" is pretentious, and "grok" is jargon. I think the way to say it in plain, everyday English is "understand."

I think that the abstracted language makes it easier to admit that something is difficult to reason about.