Semantic(s)

Subject: Semantic(s)
From: Janet Swisher <jmswisher -at- gmail -dot- com>
To: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Date: Wed, 17 Mar 2010 12:02:40 -0500

On Wed, Mar 17, 2010 at 10:06 AM, Nancy Allison <maker -at- verizon -dot- net> wrote:
> What would you say the difference is? Semantic only?

Not to pick on Nancy, but she triggered one of my usage hot buttons.

Why is it that people use "semantic only" or "just semantics" when
what they mean is "meaningless"?

Semantics is the study of meaning. If a difference is "semantic only",
then it should be a difference in meaning, that is, a difference that
actually means something. If I wanted to know whether it was a
meaningless difference, I would ask something "Just terminology?"

Am I the only one with this pet peeve?

--Janet
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