▲ 659 ▼ Are we just making up language rules as we go? (lemmy.world) submitted 2 days ago by The_Picard_Maneuver@lemmy.world [M] to c/memes@lemmy.world 117 comments fedilink hide all child comments
[–] slothrop@lemmy.ca 2 points 2 days ago (1 child) So which is sanctioned...? permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] folekaule@lemmy.world 16 points 2 days ago (3 children) Merriam-Webster says this: "When cooking over a gas stove, avoid wearing loose, (flammable/inflammable) clothing that could catch fire easily." Which word is correct: flammable or inflammable? It's a trick question. Both flammable and inflammable are correct, as they both mean "capable of being easily ignited and of burning quickly." This makes no sense to the Modern English speaker. In English, we think of in- as a prefix that means "not": inactive means "not active," inconclusive means "not conclusive," inconsiderate means "not considerate." Therefore, inflammable should mean "not flammable." [...] What do you do? If you want to keep things crystal clear, choose flammable when you are referring to something that catches fire and burns easily, and use the relatively recent nonflammable when referring to something that doesn't catch fire and burn easily. Inflammable is just likely to enflame confusion. Personally I use "inflammable", but if I were writing warning posters I would have to reconsider that. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 6 child comments replies: [–] Danquebec@sh.itjust.works 1 point 1 day ago English-speakers are really unlucky to have one of the most ambiguous word for situations where the need for clarity is of such great importance, especially as it concerns safety, even saving lives. permalink fedilink source parent [–] surewhynotlem@lemmy.world 18 points 2 days ago Personally I use "inflammable" I also like to reduce the likelihood of being understood. permalink fedilink source parent [–] bort@sopuli.xyz 10 points 2 days ago Inflammable is just likely to enflame confusion :-) permalink fedilink source parent
[–] folekaule@lemmy.world 16 points 2 days ago (3 children) Merriam-Webster says this: "When cooking over a gas stove, avoid wearing loose, (flammable/inflammable) clothing that could catch fire easily." Which word is correct: flammable or inflammable? It's a trick question. Both flammable and inflammable are correct, as they both mean "capable of being easily ignited and of burning quickly." This makes no sense to the Modern English speaker. In English, we think of in- as a prefix that means "not": inactive means "not active," inconclusive means "not conclusive," inconsiderate means "not considerate." Therefore, inflammable should mean "not flammable." [...] What do you do? If you want to keep things crystal clear, choose flammable when you are referring to something that catches fire and burns easily, and use the relatively recent nonflammable when referring to something that doesn't catch fire and burn easily. Inflammable is just likely to enflame confusion. Personally I use "inflammable", but if I were writing warning posters I would have to reconsider that. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 6 child comments replies: [–] Danquebec@sh.itjust.works 1 point 1 day ago English-speakers are really unlucky to have one of the most ambiguous word for situations where the need for clarity is of such great importance, especially as it concerns safety, even saving lives. permalink fedilink source parent [–] surewhynotlem@lemmy.world 18 points 2 days ago Personally I use "inflammable" I also like to reduce the likelihood of being understood. permalink fedilink source parent [–] bort@sopuli.xyz 10 points 2 days ago Inflammable is just likely to enflame confusion :-) permalink fedilink source parent
[–] Danquebec@sh.itjust.works 1 point 1 day ago English-speakers are really unlucky to have one of the most ambiguous word for situations where the need for clarity is of such great importance, especially as it concerns safety, even saving lives. permalink fedilink source parent
[–] surewhynotlem@lemmy.world 18 points 2 days ago Personally I use "inflammable" I also like to reduce the likelihood of being understood. permalink fedilink source parent
[–] bort@sopuli.xyz 10 points 2 days ago Inflammable is just likely to enflame confusion :-) permalink fedilink source parent