General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: I Beg You: Never, ever use "Begs the Question" [View all]3catwoman3
(25,041 posts)My older son and I are what we affectionately refer to as "word nerds," and we often have interesting conversations about shoddy usage. He is also a devoted soccer player, fan, and part time coach and we were just lamenting how the word "versus" seems to be disappearing. It bugs him when he hears his players ask, "Who are we versing?"
I am guilty of avoiding proper use or proper pronunciation of things I know to be right when I suspect my listeners will either not know what is correct and think I am making a mistake, or regard me as pretentious. I never pronounce err the way it is supposed to be pronounced, because most people look at you as if you have lost your mind. Seeing as error is pronounces air-er, why isn't err supposed to be pronounced as "air?"