When people mis-use literally it bugs me, Anyone else?

[TheStatutoryApe]

*shrug*, inflammable means the same things as flammable, despoiled means the same things as spoiled. Give it a few years, regardless will be in common usage and it will be partially because of me *mwahahahahaha*

disenfranchised

 

[maverick_starstrider]

disenfranchised

What's wrong with disenfranchise? To take away something that was enfranchised.

 

[negitron]

*shrug*, inflammable means the same things as flammable

They do, however, the "in-" prefix does not mean "not" in this case:

USAGE NOTE Historically, flammable and inflammable mean the same thing. However, the presence of the prefix in– has misled many people into assuming that inflammable means “not flammable” or “noncombustible.” The prefix –in in inflammable is not, however, the Latin negative prefix –in, which is related to the English –un and appears in such words as indecent and inglorious. Rather, this –in is an intensive prefix derived from the Latin preposition in. This prefix also appears in the word enflame. But many people are not aware of this derivation, and for clarity's sake it is advisable to use only flammable to give warnings.

http://www.answers.com/topic/flammable

There is a similar etymology at work with "despoil" since the "de-" prefix is not the more familiar one, but rather one meaning "from" similar to the modern Spanish de which means "of" or "from."

"Irregardless," however, is just nonstandard usage.

 

[TheStatutoryApe]

What's wrong with disenfranchise? To take away something that was enfranchised.

Unnescessarily compunded prefixes

Franchise

Enfranchise

Disfranchise

Disenfranchise

though it is in common usage now.

 

[Jimmy Snyder]

In a previous thread, I had mentioned the use of ultimate to mean great:

That was the ultimate dinner, Mom.

Let me add the use of incredible to mean great:

I believe in Intelligent Design because it is such an incredible theory.

 

[russ_watters]

Haven't read this thread, but how 'bout flammable vs inflammable?

 

[negitron]

Haven't read this thread, but how 'bout flammable vs inflammable?

Post #103.

 

[russ_watters]

I suppose if I was less lazy, I could have at least read the last page of the thread i was posting too... [shrug]

 

[negitron]

Now, that's a level of laziness I can merely aspire to.

 

[Danger]

Haven't read this thread, but how 'bout flammable vs inflammable?

Remember George Carlin's routine about that? Not an exact quote following, but close.
"Flammable, inflammable, non-inflammable. What the hell? Either the thing flamms or it doesn't flamm. Make up your mind."

 

[lisab]

Remember George Carlin's routine about that? Not an exact quote following, but close.
"Flammable, inflammable, non-inflammable. What the hell? Either the thing flamms or it doesn't flamm. Make up your mind."

Carlin was genius! Didn't he also point out that when an alarm goes off, it goes on ?

 

[Danger]

I believe so. He also pointed out that your own farts smell okay. The only one of his albums that I own is 'Toledo Window Box', but I sure wouldn't mind picking up a few more.

 

[GeorginaS]

"A Place For My Stuff" had me in stitches the first time I listened to it. I had it on cassette tape and listened to it on a continuous loop while travelling.

 

[Danger]

"A Place For My Stuff" had me in stitches the first time I listened to it. I had it on cassette tape and listened to it on a continuous loop while travelling.

Oh, yeah. I remember a snippet of that from his stand-up routine. Your **** is 'stuff', and other people's stuff is '****'. I readily admit to having a vast collection of both.

 

[seerongo]

George Carlin? You mean there are others here as old as I? Well, I guess you don't have to be old. I loved George Carlin in the 70's and went to a concert in Portland back then with a girl friend. Unfortunately, he was nearly incoherent. That was in his incoherent days. It was pretty embarrassing. I forgave him, though. I guess I've been incoherent a few times myself...

 

[Danger]

You mean there are others here as old as I?

Are you kidding? I'm older than dirt, and am a mere child compared to Turbo and Integral. Hypatia and Astro are about my age, give or take a few months, and the incredibly gorgeous Evo is a couple of years ahead of me. Ivan always pretended to be older than me, but I found out that he's actually younger. There are a lot here, mostly gold members, who are in the same age range.
Put it this way, we have pre-teens, great-grandparents, and everything in between.

 

[Monocles]

The OP is incorrect. Figuratively is actually a widely-accepted definition of literally. Source: http://www.slate.com/id/2129105

 

[Danger]

While that link was a very interesting read, it still points out that the general usage is improper. The only difference is that the writer seems willing to accept that improperness under some circumstances.