quote:

Right, right. As I said, I knew the rule. I had just missed this particular error among all possible errors on a Web site with over 5,000 pages. I know, that in itself is an abomination.

As you saw, WM, our organization had made the same mistake; Richard caught it; and I had it changed.

That was a long time ago, though. Since then I have relaxed a lot toward stringent grammatical rules that are put forth by grammar mavens such as Strunk and White. This particular one? I probably would have had it changed anyway. But I wouldn't fret. I bet that parent forces Strunk and White on her kids, and you know what Language Log says about that, don't you? It's child abuse!

Love that Language Log. They have freed me considerably.

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We have in our collection more than fifty writers on usage, from 1917 to 1988, who insist that a certain distinction between infer and imply be observed and preserved.

I would agree with them. It is a useful distinction and its removal adds nothing to the ease, flexibility or clarity of language to my mind.

Having said which, I consider that there are several so-called rules that do restrict language and I frequently break them when I feel it's necessary so to do. But I don't break this one.

quote:

Originally posted by Richard English:

I would agree with them. It is a useful distinction and its removal adds nothing to the ease, flexibility or clarity of language to my mind.

But the people who complain of the loss of this useful distinction are in fact contributing to the loss of a useful distinction. infer meaning 3, used by such writers as Shakespeare, seems to be on the decline because usage commentators can't tell the difference between meanings 3 and 4, and complain about both equally. The difference is that 3 is not used with a personal subject, and 4 is. Also, 4 is not found in "serious intellectual writing".

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Originally posted by zmježd:
You'll never convince those that need convincing, goofy.

Maybe not, but I have to at least state the facts.

I suppose that depends on what you consider to be a useful distinction. There comes a time when distinctions are so nice, or so specialised, that it is questionable whether they are worthwhile.

The very easy distinction between "infer" (to draw a conclusion), and "imply" (to suggest) seems worth preserving and not difficult to explain.