If enough people make the same error, especially if they're sufficiently high-status, eventually it becomes standard usage. But there's a transitional period du

If enough people make the same error, especially if they're sufficiently high-status, eventually it becomes standard usage. But there's a transitional period during which those who care about clear communication are understandably disturbed by the mistake. E.g., the usage "I'm going to lay down" is wrong, but it's common even among educated speakers. (In this context "lay" requires an object; the right usage is "I'm going to lie down" or, more poetically, "I'm going to lay myself down.") Shall we simply lay down—sorry, lie down—and accept such linguistic shifts, or shall we rage against the dying of the lie, er, light?