A list by Steven Pinker. Refreshingly prescriptivist. I agree with every example. For instance,
• Begs the question means assumes what it should be proving and does not mean raises the question.
Correct: "When I asked the dealer why I should pay more for the German car, he said I would be getting 'German quality,' but that just begs the question."
The MavPhil trinity of editors, me, myself, and I heartily agree. But if you disagree with me or the trinity I won't draw my weapon. I won't even give you a lecture or refer you to one of my erudite entries on the topic. Meaning is tied to use. So if enough people come to use 'begs the question' to mean raises the question, then that is what it will mean. The meaning of a word or phrase is not an intrinsic property of it. If you want to communicate using the phrase in question after the ignorant have their way with it, then you will have to acquiesce in the semantic corruption.
But why call it corruption? Because of the destruction of a very useful phrase with a specific meaning. We already have 'raises the question.'
When Trump was asked by Hugh Hewitt whether the former meant it literally when he called Obama the founder of ISIS, the Orange Man said yes, literally. Now there are degrees of descriptivism. Will you take it to the mad dog extreme of tolerating this use of 'literally'? Or will you dig in your heels? Not every prescriptivism is schoolmarmish. I have been known to split an infinite when the cadence of a well-crafted sentence dictated it. (Memo to self: write an entire entry on 'literally.')
The fact that we have the leisure to ponder these bagatelles is testimony to how good we have it. So be grateful for what you have while you have it.
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