In English usage, as in most other human affairs, it is wise to avoid extremes and follow a reasonable middle course. The extremists in matters of usage are, on the right, the purists and, on the left, the new-day linguistic anarchists. According to Bergen Evans (in his sometimes fascinating book Comfortable Words), "A purist is one who applauds a female performer by shouting 'Brava! Brava!' while learing with contempt upon the vulgar mob ignorantly shouting 'Bravo!'" A linguistic anarchist, on the other hand, may be defined as a devil who can cite Scripture and the latest count of noses to advise the populace that it is quite correct to say, "The pencil is laying on the desk," but wouldn't dream of saying it himself because he knows better. [Theodore M. Bernstein The Careful Writer: A Modern Guide to English Usage, (1965) p. 375]

The purist deplores the habit of the hoi polloi in dropping an expression anywhere it remotely seems like it ought to fit, thereby sullying its usefulness; eg,"beg the question"

Eventually the new meaning is adopted by Merriam

http://rmjacobsen.squarespace.com/notebook/2005/11/18/m...eg-the-question.html

The purist further maintians that this practice so dilutes the Mother Tongue that eventually any word can mean anything you want it to

I call the practice "smearing" but there's a better term; what is it

The purist further maintians that this practice so dilutes the Mother Tongue that eventually any word can mean anything you want it to

How come Old English is not more expressive than Present Day English? In fact, if language is about 100 K years old, nothing means anything. Did I miss something?

I call the practice "smearing" but there's a better term; what is it

Linguistic change.

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The purist deplores the habit of the hoi polloi

Shouldn't that be "The purist deplores the habit of the hoi polloi"?

My hyperpuristic tongue is squarely in my cheek here.

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"A purist is one who applauds a female performer by shouting 'Brava! Brava!' while learing with contempt upon the vulgar mob ignorantly shouting 'Bravo!'"

Yeah...I remember having a purist discussion of that here once. I imagine that I was the one to use "Bravo" with a female, though I don't remember for sure.

I agree that the "middle course" is best.

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I agree that the "middle course" is best.

As one who tries usually to be moderate and to take the middle course, my comment here would be that, in my considerable experience, those who sit on the fence often get shot at by both sides!

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Originally posted by Richard English:

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I agree that the "middle course" is best.

As one who tries usually to be moderate and to take the middle course, my comment here would be that, in my considerable experience, those who sit on the fence often get shot at by both sides!

RE, Depending on the construction and texture of the fence, you could also "get shot at" from underneath. Then you would leave the middle course to become a backs(l)ider.

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Shouldn't that be "The purist deplores the habit of the hoi polloi"?

Quite right, wordnerd! I was thinking of writing the same, but couldn't think of a way to say it without risking causing offence!

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As one who tries usually to be moderate and to take the middle course,

Really? I would never have guessed that.

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As one who tries usually to be moderate and to take the middle course,

It's been my experience that very few people consider their own views to be extreme. Especially in politics.

I would agree with that, and I find it fascinating.

I will admit, though, that I am more liberal (to the left, or whatever the term is) than the average American.