True, but a properly researched "descriptive" dictionary
can be used "prescriptively," so long as one pays attention
to notations about a word's status.
Gene Kim-Eng
----- Original Message -----
From: "Fred Ridder" <docudoc -at- hotmail -dot- com>
To: <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com>
Sent: Monday, October 01, 2007 4:22 PM
Subject: RE: Inflammable vs. flammable
>
> In fact, there are two different styles of dictionary. Descriptive
> dictionaries like M-W strive to include all words and usages that
> are found with any reasonable degree of frequency, even if they
> are "non-standard" or improper or flat out incorrect. Prescriptive
> dictionaries attempt to tell the reader the correct way to use
> the language; non-standard words are usually not included and
> improper usages may only be discussed in a special usage note
> rather than included in the dfinitions proper. These days there
> are very few prescriptive dictionaries for the English language.
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