Misuse of the word "refute" really tits me off

[xoggoth]

I hate it when people repeat words. Someone I know is always saying things like "really, really..." or even "really, really, really..."

[northernladuk]

I hate it when people repeat words. Someone I know is always saying things like "really, really..." or even "really, really, really..."

Does he/she like blinking?

[TheGreenBastard]

https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/refute

See 1.2

[ladymuck]

https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/refute

See 1.2

"Traditionalists object to this newer use as an unacceptable degradation of the language, but it is widely encountered"

[PhiltheGreek]

"Traditionalists object to this newer use as an unacceptable degradation of the language, but it is widely encountered"

The traditionalists, one notes, are correct.

[northernladyuk]

The traditionalists, one notes, are correct.

When it comes to understanding the English language, traditionalists are typically insecure and poorly educated fools.

[NickFitz]

The traditionalists, one notes, are correct.

Indeed. The fact that the OED reports incorrect usage is merely a consequence of their mission being descriptive rather than prescriptive. It doesn't stop the wrong 'uns who misuse the word being wrong

[northernladyuk]

Indeed. The fact that the OED reports incorrect usage is merely a consequence of their mission being descriptive rather than prescriptive. It doesn't stop the wrong 'uns who misuse the word being wrong

Prescriptive lexicography and grammar don't really work well in English. They often seek to apply rules that not only deny the changing nature of the English language, but also ignore historic usage.

The 'fewer' vs 'less' argument in a case in point. Apparently 'less' should not be used with plural countable nouns. However, such usage of 'less' can be documented back as far as the scholarly Alfred the Great in 888.

"Swa mid læs worda swa mid ma, swæðer we hit yereccan mayon."

"With less words or with more, whether we may prove it."

[PhiltheGreek]

When it comes to understanding the English language, traditionalists are typically insecure and poorly educated fools.

Bit judgemental that. For a brasser.

[woohoo]

******* grammar and word hitlers.