RE: Inflammable vs. flammable

["Tariel, Lauren R" <lt34 -at- saclink -dot- csus -dot- edu>]

What should become of language when common errors are accepted in general usage? 
E.g.: http://www.m-w.com/dictionary/supercede
 
Language does change on its own and many terms lose their meanings, gain new meanings, and sometimes become profane over time.  These are changes through usage of terms.  But complacency to errors seems like it might have an effect of turning a language that we understand into babble.  We know that we will not suddenly stop understanding one another because our language becomes convoluted with erroneous terms and multiple meanings, but what will English of today become in a few hundred years?  A lost language?
 
Lauren

________________________________

From: brianlindgren -at- aol -dot- com [mailto:brianlindgren -at- aol -dot- com]
Sent: Mon 10/1/2007 1:38 PM
To: Tariel, Lauren R; RHearn -at- cucbc -dot- com; techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Subject: Re: Inflammable vs. flammable


Speaking of words and misspellings that land in dictionaries because of repeated misuse... The word "supersede" is, I believe, the only one of that genre to have an "s" rather than a "c" before the "-ede." A few years back Fox TV had a spelling bee program and they gave the prize to someone who spelled supersede with a "c" !!!
 
I actually wrote them to point out their error, but received no reply. Shocker.
 
Conversely, I pointed out a phoenetic misspelling in a Dove soap ad on the AOL homepage and Dove not only thanked me but sent me about $50 in coupons. Sometimes being a stickler pays off.


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