8 ms·
When a phrase is used the “wrong” way more often than the right way, it ceases to be wrong.
by eli 7y ago
When a phrase is used the “wrong” way more often than the right way, it ceases to be wrong.
- jvolkman 7y agoWhat about "I could care less"? Seems like that one is just always wrong.
- atroche 7y agoThinking about language usage as "wrong" or "right" might not be the most helpful way to think about it: https://stancarey.wordpress.com/2010/02/16/descriptivism-vs-prescriptivism-war-is-over-if-you-want-it/ https://stancarey.wordpress.com/2010/02/16/descriptivism-vs-... (p.s. not saying there's no wrong or right when it comes to ideas themselves)
- redshirtrob 7y agoYeah. But people say it enough I've started mentally converting it to: "I _could_ care less (but I can't be bothered)."
- briandear 7y agoThrough the sheer force of repeated ignorance we change the language?
- DFHippie 7y agoWell, that's one way it happens. The language is just the set of conventions the speakers understand. When those conventions change, through ignorance or any other reason, then the language changes. That doesn't mean you can't grumble about it as it happens, though.
- axaxs 7y agoI used to really, really agree with your line of thinking, and get an almost depressing feeling that this happens. But if you sit back and think about it, a lot of our 'correct' language started off as mistakes. Mayday, Ammunition, Culprit, to name 3 of a list of likely thousands...
- mokus 7y agoGiven that ignorance merely means not knowing, yes. Yes, that’s exactly how it works.
- HeavyStorm 7y agoUnfortunately, yes. I still have to come to terms with it.
- rdiddly 7y agoIdiocracy, defined.
- Dylan16807 7y agoBefore you say that, ask yourself which use is actually using the word "beg" correctly.
- eli 7y ago“Idiocracy” doesn’t appear in my dictionary, how did you come to know what it means?
- rdiddly 7y agoSomeone made a movie and called it that. It's not really a word. So yes, you proved words can be created. That however is an opposite process to the one that destroys the meaning of an existing word or expression through repetition by people who don't know how to use it. I'm against that kind of half-assery. Creation, art, those take work and discipline. And as much as creativity demands going against convention, you always first have to learn & be aware of what the conventions are. Not even doing that work, and then just claiming your way is just as legitimate as the accepted way for your own mere convenience, well it's a shortcut, and I mean in the best case you have a very slim chance of "just happening" to be a great artist, and in the worst case it's the height of ignorance and narcissism. So yeah I'm unimpressed. I would accept & respect even a deliberate act of transgression -- knowing the right way and doing it wrong on purpose -- before that kind of shoddy relativism.