Meanings change, but the words we use remain important Letter of the day
Do the words we use matter?
As long as others know what we mean, then mangling the English language seems a very minor issue, especially in these troubled times. Problems arise however when people take you at your word, and the word you use is the wrong one.
A news report tonight stated that cancer operations had been cancelled to enable Covid patients to be treated. The speaker meant postponed. Cancelled means something won't happen, postponed means it has been delayed. Very different things, and an error that could cause considerable distress.
English is constantly changing, and some complaints about its use and abuse are based on personal taste or how people were taught. 'Ain't', short for 'are not' is seen as 'bad English', yet apparently Queen Victoria used the word regularly. Some words simply go out of fashion, and the meaning of some words such as 'gay' or 'queer' have changed irrevocably. The 'N' word, unacceptable today when referring to a person of colour, was once commonplace. Language changes, whether we like it or not.
Some 'word-crimes' continue to be committed and drive me to distraction. Enormity does NOT mean large, it means great horror. Stalemate does not mean impasse or standoff. A ball strikes a player's midriff, not middrift, and it's a 'dog eat dog' world, not ‘doggy dog world.’ Myriad is a lovely word but you only get one of them. If I see the words; 'Many myriad' again I'll… stop, lest my chickens come home to roast.
Of course, the great danger in correcting other people's use of English is that you commit a major fox paw yourself.
Nick Haines Allaway Avenue, Paulsgrove