RE: Semantic(s)

Subject: RE: Semantic(s)
From: "Combs, Richard" <richard -dot- combs -at- Polycom -dot- com>
To: 'Janet Swisher' <jmswisher -at- gmail -dot- com>, "techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com>
Date: Wed, 17 Mar 2010 11:01:08 -0700

Janet Swisher wrote:

> 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?

Well, it doesn't rank up there with people who use "literally" when they mean "figuratively" (now that one really bugs me), but you're right.


Richard G. Combs
Senior Technical Writer
Polycom, Inc.
richardDOTcombs AT polycomDOTcom
303-223-5111
------
rgcombs AT gmailDOTcom
303-777-0436
------






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References:
Semantic(s): From: Janet Swisher

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