Inflammable vs. flammable

[Gene Kim-Eng]

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.com>
To: <techwr-l at lists.techwr-l.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.