A-Z of English language myths

[banivani]

New post from one of my fave bloggers. I wanted to share here, think a few people might enjoy it.

stancarey.wordpress.com/2017/10/03/a-to-z-of-english-usage-myths/

Good stuff - of course, there's things one might quibble with*, but actually his approach is sensible, reasoned and evidence-based. Breath of fresh air after those AIBU threads "...to find this grammar error annoying?"

Maybe reading that link should be required reading before anyone is permitted to post on one of those threads?

*example: "beg the question" - I think it is useful to be able to label the logical fallacy of assuming the truth of the thing you are trying to answer (I come from a Maths background where assuming the hypothesis is a trap to avoid), but fair enough, it's got a wider, looser usage, so will have to find another way to express the narrower idea.

Yes I think you’re fighting a losing battle on beg the question, but it’s definitely a useful thing to have a name for. I often want to slam the AIBU people with this blog, generally, haha! I follow mostly to read about Irish English though.

I think my point on "beg the question" is that I don't see it as a battle. I don't "feel the rage" when I see people using it in the way that misses the more subtle usage. I just accept (maybe with a bit of sadness) that one sense has eroded, and that if I am going to communicate clearly to others, I need to use a different wording.

Ah sorry, got you. I can relate to that, sorrow over a useful term that has been eroded into another meaning - at the same time, that does indicate that the other meaning needed a term, so also joy over the resourcefulness of language?