Inflammable vs. flammable

[Fred Ridder]

Unfortunately, most dictionary users react to descriptive
dictionaries as if they were prescriptive. If they find a 
word in the dictionary, then it must be OK to use it.
Never mind that it's described as "non-standard" or 
"informal" or "slang" or "improper". If it's there, it's OK.
 
Even Lauren says "I'm starting to lose faith in M-W because 
of its acceptance of improper terms," when they are only 
reporting what exists in modern usage (describing) rather 
than passing any kind of judgment on properness 
(prescribing). She's expecting a prescriptive value judgment
from an unashamedly descriptive dictionary.
 
-Fred Ridder
Gene Kim-Eng wrote:
> 
> True, but a properly researched "descriptive" dictionary 
> can be used "prescriptively," so long as one pays attention 
> to notations about a word's status. 
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