2 ms·
The fact that people still argue argue about the only-several-centuries-old newfangled meaning of this word signifies to me that I probably shouldn't use it in
by monochromatic 14y ago
The fact that people still argue argue about the only-several-centuries-old newfangled meaning of this word signifies to me that I probably shouldn't use it in my writing. If I use it to mean "reduce by one tenth" most of my readers will be confused; if I use it to mean "destroy," a vocal minority will be annoyed.
- arrrg 14y agoUhm, no you do not get to move the goal posts. Argue against using the word. Don’t dare argue that it has a different meaning than it actually has. Also, I think I will increase my use of decimate. If it pisses off those annoying pedants (who are perfectly aware of what is being communicated and won’t be the slightest bit confused) I will be happy. I successfully communicated and pissed off people I don’t like. Yay!
- monochromatic 14y ago> people I don’t like But I like you...
- chimeracoder 14y ago> I successfully communicated and pissed off people I don’t like. Yay! You'll make a lot of friends with that attitude.
- arrrg 14y agoOh, I don’t want to be friends with people who are pedants about stuff like this.