Saturday, July 07, 2012

At Your Service, Sir

In Which I Educate an NPR Reporter on the Correct Usage of the Phrase "To Beg the Question."


Just another day on the grammar beat.

9 comments:

Melissa Crowe said...

Only you can seem charming whilst correcting someone. You should have been a (sexy) librarian. :-)

Liz Woodbury said...

i should add that this conversation was a little longer and included some friendly chit chat-type tweets. AND that sexy librarian is one of my dream jobs, along with gentleman farmer, roustabout, foley artist, and dog massage therapist.

Joanna said...

THANK you. I feel like I see that phrase all over the place to mean "to raise the question," and no one seems to know that it actually describes a logical fallacy . . . C'mon, people.

Joanna said...

On a happy note: Reading about "to beg the question" on Wikipedia just led me to learn the phrase "euphemism treadmill." Yay! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euphemism_treadmill#Euphemism_treadmill

Liz Woodbury said...

oh my god, euphemism treadmill is a beautiful thing. and i'm so glad you approve of my spreading the word about begging the question. i've even heard it misused on bbc radio, horrors!

bob woodbury said...

Sounds like my girl!

: a circus worker who erects and dismantles tents, cares for the grounds, and handles animals and equipment

: a person with no permanent home or regular occupation;

also : one who stirs up trouble

JW @ Ferguson Library said...

As an actual librarian, I second MC's comment.

unemployed negativity said...

This might be the philosophy teacher in me, but isn't avoiding the question just raising it for someone else to ask?

Liz Woodbury said...

that is DEFINITELY the philosophy teacher in you!