{"id":685,"date":"2022-05-04T21:25:36","date_gmt":"2022-05-04T21:25:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/findyourdegreetoday.com\/index.php\/2022\/05\/04\/literal-meanings-and-pedantic-precision\/"},"modified":"2022-09-04T02:26:23","modified_gmt":"2022-09-04T02:26:23","slug":"literal-meanings-and-pedantic-precision","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/findyourdegreetoday.com\/index.php\/2022\/05\/04\/literal-meanings-and-pedantic-precision\/","title":{"rendered":"Literal Meanings and Pedantic Precision"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Earlier this yr, the Merriam-Webster web site, which, together with its paper-and-ink model, is infamous for its laissez-faire method to phrase utilization, expressed an intriguing argument in one in all its Utilization Notes: Relax about preserving the \u201cauthentic\u201d that means of phrases.<\/p>\n

If one had been to insist that phrases be used solely of their preliminary sense, one would discourage me from writing \u201cRelax,\u201d as a result of I’m not alluding to temperature, and the literal that means of the verb chill<\/em> just isn’t \u201crelax,\u201d however \u201cmake colder.\u201d That\u2019s the purpose of the submit, which argues that, for instance, worsen<\/em> shouldn\u2019t be required to use solely to creating one thing worse\u2014it\u2019s fantastic to make use of it when describing mere irritation. The argument goes that if the restriction is to be taken to its logical conclusion, worsen<\/em> ought to imply solely \u201coverwhelm,\u201d as a result of that’s its authentic sense. (The grav<\/em> in worsen<\/em>, you see, is similar because the grav in gravity.)<\/p>\n

By the identical token, the lackluster utterance of \u201cSuperior\u201d in response to, properly, just about any pronouncement\u2014no exclamation level is important, as a result of the remark was seemingly nothing like an exclamation\u2014is appropriate. Apparently, the curiosity of some in preserving that time period to explain one thing actually exceptional is invalid; in any case, the unique that means was \u201cinspiring awe,\u201d and to make use of the phrase for one thing merely spectacular demonstrates disloyalty to its etymological origins. (Terrible<\/em> would even have the identical restriction, as a result of it actually means \u201cfilled with awe.\u201d)<\/p>\n

I see the purpose, however I additionally really feel that indiscriminate dilution of a phrase\u2019s distinct that means paints writers right into a nook. As soon as superior<\/em>, indiscriminately mumbled in response to myriad feedback undeserving of such a doubtlessly highly effective reply, is devalued, what’s left to explain one thing that’s, properly, actually superior? On the one hand, this weakening of a phrase challenges the author to search out\u2014and even craft\u2014an acceptable synonym, but it surely may not be lengthy earlier than the alternative is in flip drained of its power.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s why I by no means write (or say) anxious<\/em> once I imply keen<\/em>; the previous time period patently alludes to nervousness, not anticipation. However I admit inconsistency\u2014utilizing the final phrase within the earlier sentence jogs my memory that anticipation<\/em> actually means not \u201cthe state of wanting ahead to one thing\u201d however, somewhat, \u201cthe act of foreseeing.\u201d (Anticipere<\/em>, the Latin verb from which it’s derived, means \u201ctake earlier than.\u201d) However, I attempt to use exact, unambiguous phrases and can proceed to protect distinctions when potential, and I encourage cautious writers to take action as properly.<\/p>\n

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