arguably

[ironduck]

How do you use the word 'arguably' in sentences? It seems that it's often used contrary to its definition, but it's often hard to tell whether the writer means it one way or the other.

I'm wondering if it's going the same way as the word 'pathetic'.

 

[LucyDuke]

I'm more put off by people saying "I'm nauseous". As for arguably, I think a better question than "how often" would be "what do you mean when you use it?"

But language can't be incorrect. Prescriptive grammarians are misguided control freaks.

I use it to mean that my position can be argued. Not that it's necessarily correct, or that it's difficult to defend, just that I realize that argument may be needed to establish its validity. I'm not saying "hey, look, you could tell me about how wrong I am", I'm saying "I know you might not buy this on its own, but I could support it if needed".

 

[Perfection]

I don't see the big deal, it's a means of acknowledging in passing that a certain statement may not be correct. What's wrong with that?

 

[ironduck]

I'm more put off by people saying "I'm nauseous". As for arguably, I think a better question than "how often" would be "what do you mean when you use it?"

I didn't ask how often, I did in fact ask what people mean by it

I use it to mean that my position can be argued. Not that it's necessarily correct, or that it's difficult to defend, just that I realize that argument may be needed to establish its validity. I'm not saying "hey, look, you could tell me about how wrong I am", I'm saying "I know you might not buy this on its own, but I could support it if needed".

Ok, that makes sense. Often people seem to use it as a way of describing a definitive truth, which I find very confusing.

 

[ironduck]

I don't see the big deal, it's a means of acknowledging in passing that a certain statement may not be correct. What's wrong with that?

Nothing, if that's what they mean!

 

[LucyDuke]

I didn't ask how often, I did in fact ask what people mean by it

I think I moved one of the "often"s from your second sentence to your first.

 

[Little Raven]

How do you use the word 'arguably' in sentences? It seems that it's often used contrary to its definition, but it's often hard to tell whether the writer means it one way or the other.

I use it when I'm referring to a statement over which there is legitimate controversy.

The effects of crystal meth are arguably worse than those of cocaine, especially in people under 20.

In this statement, I'm asserting (weakly) that crystal meth is 'worse' than cocaine. But at the same time, I'm acknowledging that depending on how you want to do the math, that may or may not be true. However, I probably don't really care about the specifics of which is worse, because my likely purpose in making that statement is just to underscore the point that crystal meth is bad in general, and comparing it negatively to cocaine serves that purpose nicely.

I'm not sure if this is what you're looking for or not.

 

[JollyRoger]

I'm not sure if this is what you're looking for or not.

Arguably it is.

 

[Urederra]

I don't see the big deal, it's a means of acknowledging in passing that a certain statement may not be correct. What's wrong with that?

Just like Perfy says.

 

[Bill3000]

Arguably it is.

Arguably it isn't!

 

[ironduck]

Lol..

Ok, it seems everyone here use it the way I understand it, I just often get confused by the intentions of the writer when I see it used, as they seem to espouse the view that there is in fact nothing to argue in the statement they're bringing forth containing that very word.

It can probably be scratched up to my confusion most of the time..

 

[GinandTonic]

I often use it to mean "I understand this is a debatable assumption but it is not the point I'm making", where you dont want to be side-tracked in a debate but do wish to acknowledge a statement isn't a cast-iron fact.

Not a "weak" assertion, but an acknowledgement that there is debate on a fact that only bares in passing on the issue at hand.

 

[warpus]

To me the word means that there is potential for a convincing argument to be made for whatever statement you're making.. so if you say "arguably the best", you're saying that it's up there and that a case could easily be made for it being the best.. but that you're not actually saying that it is the best. (ie. there may be other contenders)

ie. "Marie-Anne was arguably the best lay John ever had", to me would mean that it was one of the best for sure, and possibly the best.

 

[Masquerouge]

The way I understood it, "He's arguably the best player ever" means that he's without a doubt the best player ever, and that meaning indeed is contrary to what arguably should mean... But maybe I'm wrong.

 

[GinandTonic]

The way I understood it, "He's arguably the best player ever" means that he's without a doubt the best player ever, and that meaning indeed is contrary to what arguably should mean... But maybe I'm wrong.

That would be unarguably, although I think indisputably would be more correct, though I've no idea why. Indubitably (eg beyond doubt) would be another alternative, although rather old school.

 

[Little Raven]

Now, see, I would use the word inarguably, though I'm not sure why.

Oh, and any statement using the word indubitably in this day and age is likely to immediately dismissed as humor, which is probably good, since using it in a serious manner would identify the poster as a pompous fuddy-duddy of the highest order.

But we’re in total agreement on the indisputably.

 

[Masquerouge]

That would be unarguably, although I think indisputably would be more correct, though I've no idea why. Indubitably (eg beyond doubt) would be another alternative, although rather old school.

Now, see, I would use the word inarguably, though I'm not sure why.

Oh, and any statement using the word indubitably in this day and age is likely to immediately dismissed as humor, which is probably good, since using it in a serious manner would identify the poster as a pompous fuddy-duddy of the highest order.

But we’re in total agreement on the indisputably.

Yet I very frequently read "He's arguably the best..." or "that product is arguably the best..."... Have I been reading wrong all these years? Does it actually mean "It can be argued that he's one of the best"?

 

[GinandTonic]

Oh, and any statement using the word indubitably in this day and age is likely to immediately dismissed as humor, which is probably good, since using it in a serious manner would identify the poster as a pompous fuddy-duddy of the highest order.

Indupitably is perfectly acceptable, so long as you are drinking sherry and are leaning on a mantleplace dressed in tweed. An obscure linguistic rule to be sure.

 

[Little Raven]

Does it actually mean "It can be argued that he's one of the best"?

It does indeed. You'll generally see it used where they want to make the point that the guy or product is very, very good, but don't want to drawn into a lengthy debate about whether he or it is the literally the best.

 

[Masquerouge]

It does indeed. You'll generally see it used where they want to make the point that the guy or product is very, very good, but don't want to drawn into a lengthy debate about whether he or it is the literally the best.

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