Does the Misuse of Infer and Imply Bug You?

[Grisu]

I can't say I've ever seen that mix-up made here.

Much more common are misuse of their/they're or effect/affect

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

lmao that was great

If that was new for you, Eddy Murphy - Raw and Eddy Murphy - Delirious.

Look for them, acquire them, watch them. You'll be a better man because of it.

 

[Mise]

Translation: "Let's keep doing what we normally do and change anything that needs changing as soon as we know what we're doing."

Yeah, exactly. He could have just said, "We'll proceed as normal, but please let us know ASAP if we need to make any changes."

In truth, it really was a completely unnecessary email from a manager who just wanted to stick his finger in the pie to see if it was done yet. It should be blindingly obvious that, if we have no reason to do anything differently, we should proceed as normal, and if we find out later that we need to make changes, then we make the changes. Some people just want to feel like they're making all the decisions I think. "Yes, team! Do that thing that we always do, until such a time when it becomes necessary to do something differently! Also, clarity!"

 

[Perfection]

Yeah those peeps are totally infer it!

 

[TomYo689]

I don't even know the difference between effect and affect

 

[Terxpahseyton]

one is a noun and the other a verb I believe.
And thank you for bringing the issue of inference to my attention. I otherwise might have had the internet teach me something else.

 

[Mise]

Effect can be a verb too, so be careful about that one.

 

[Peck of Arabia]

I've been pernickty about the issue ever since it was explained in that Simpsons episode one time

 

[Mise]

bee tee dub, we have these threads: http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=249386
http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=347206

 

[LucyDuke]

They're locked down in old OT.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

Ah, the old OT, when we were united as one.

We welcome change and openness; for we believe that freedom and security go together, that the advance of human liberty can only strengthen the cause of world peace. There is one sign the Moderators can make that would be unmistakable, that would advance dramatically the cause of freedom and peace. Mr Moderator, if you seek peace, if you seek prosperity for the CFC-OT and CivFanatics in general, if you seek liberalization, come here to this gate. Mr. Moderator, open this gate. Mr. Moderator, Mr. Moderator, tear down this wall!

Worked once I'm told, fingers crossed.

 

[BvBPL]

enough said

Link to video.

If everyone were as eloquent as Stephen Fry then that might make sense.

Even Fry recognizes that there's a different between formal communication, in which you probably should make sure everything is all Strunk and White, and informal communication, where differences are more acceptable.

To dismiss complaints about the misuse of language in a knee-jerk fashion as solely the pedantic complaints of people who don't have anything better to do misses the point that avoiding these sorts of errors probably is a good idea in formal writing.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

Well, at least Gamemaster has me pathetic with gratitude for posting that.

 

[BvBPL]

Every dose of Stephen Fry is totally awesome, that's for sure.

 

[Terxpahseyton]

Ah, the old OT, when we were united as one.

We welcome change and openness; for we believe that freedom and security go together, that the advance of human liberty can only strengthen the cause of world peace. There is one sign the Moderators can make that would be unmistakable, that would advance dramatically the cause of freedom and peace. Mr Moderator, if you seek peace, if you seek prosperity for the CFC-OT and CivFanatics in general, if you seek liberalization, come here to this gate. Mr. Moderator, open this gate. Mr. Moderator, Mr. Moderator, tear down this wall!

Worked once I'm told, fingers crossed.

And here is the missing German to cheer at you: Huhu!

Effect can be a verb too, so be careful about that one.

I am just confused.

 

[cybrxkhan]

Doesn't really bother me as long as I get the idea of what they're aiming at. Words change in meaning all the time, so eventually the current "correct" meanings of these words will become "incorrect". Just like how "awful" once meant "awesome" but now means the opposite.

 

[Mise]

I am just confused.

I see this revelation has effected confusion in you...

 

[Terxpahseyton]

And what affect on my part will come of it? Will I affect you by starting to confuse you in turn or will the confusion affect me in a way that I shall experience an affect which will effect my considerations of my effects.
?

 

[azzaman333]

Is this thread inferring that people frequently mistakenly use imply when they mean infer and vice versa?

 

[Zack]

Is this thread inferring that people frequently mistakenly use imply when they mean infer and vice versa?

That's what the OP is inferring.