RCM only
On Mon, 15 Oct 2007 14:04:57 -0400, with neither quill nor qualm,
Spehro Pefhany quickly quoth:
On Mon, 15 Oct 2007 17:54:51 -0000, Charlie Self
wrote:
Thank you. I thought I was the sole remaining proponent of the proper
use of "begs the question."
Alas, the colloquial usage has already metastasized and entered at
least one dictionary:
http://www.m-w.com/dictionary/beg%20the%20question
The above-linked definitions poorly describe the original meaning as
well.
The drop-e words have also metastasized. The "phony, pricy, lacy" of
my yout are now "phoney", "pricey", and "lacey". (And, no, I never
liked punctuation in the sentence unles it's a sentence being quoted.)
Howl, ye prescriptivists, howl.
Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrgh! Colloquial usage is highly overrated.
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Remember: Every silver lining has a cloud.
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