[Leica] Re: "Even us natives don't write English good"

[ericm at pobox.com (Eric)]

John:

>Or the use of decimated to imply reduced to a tenth rather than the 
>correct meaning of reduced by a tenth.

Irregardless, who is to say what the "correct" meaning is?  Isn't the
correct meaning that which is generally accepted usage?  Language exists to
communicate with each other.  Not to employ a language lawyer to figure out
what the word originally meant and to make sure the meaning never sways.

I've not often heard decimated to mean exact reductions.  "The local
basketball team was decimated by the state champs."  And that usage,
referring as much to stomping on morale as anything, is closer to the origin
of the word as the Romans employed it as anything.

"Showstopper" is one word that comes to mind.  In one context, it's a good
thing.  A live performance that is so wonderful that the show is stopped
momentarily while the performers receive a standing ovation.  Or, it's a
horrible thing.  Something that will cause production to grind to a halt
until the problem is fixed.  Which is right?  Both.


--
Eric
http://canid.com/