Obama speech sparks misuse of enormous proportions

Chicago Tribune ^ | January 23, 2009 | Mary Schmich

[ConservativeStatement]

A few months ago, before Barack Obama became the linguist-in-chief, I made a note to myself to write a column about the need to exterminate a pest.

The pest kept popping up in my TV. In my e-mail inbox. In the mouths of people far more eloquent than I.

The pest's name: enormity.

[VR-21]

I fear that many will soon know the word by its proper usage, courtesy of our new Chief Executive.

[unkus]

You should post this during the day. More people will see it.

[dianed]

Enormity means monsterous wickedness?

Then Barack Obama’s presidency will be filled with ENORMITY!

[ex91B10]

The author should consult a dictionary before spewing.

[abigailsmybaby]

The Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, however, sniffs at such stickling: "Those who urge such a limitation may not recognize the subtlety with which 'enormity' is actually used."

Maybe your the one suffering from premature ejaculation of the mouth.

[668 - Neighbor of the Beast]

Sorry, but “at the end of the day” (to employ my own pet peeve), “enormity” is widely understood to refer to size, and it rolls out a lot more smoothly than “enormousness.”
Consider the low birth of the word “normalcy.” Accept it, toots; some words are born in the back of a wagon, and they go everywhere.

[shibumi]

Here.

You’re probably looking for these, missing, as they were, from your post:

“’”

“e”

[FoxInSocks]

The English language has been decimated by sloppiness and ambivalence.

[wastoute]

Obama didn’t misspeak, his minions have misheard. He knows the things he is doing are massive evil.

[shibumi]

"The English language has been decimated by sloppiness and ambivalence.

That's OK.

If the schools would just teach people to use the other 90% of the words properly, we'd be fine.

[Tenniel2]

Subtlety my @ss. Merriam-Webster forfeited any claim to authoritativeness when it shifted from prescriptive (how we should speak, based on traditional best practices) to descriptive (how the illiterate do speak, based on willful ignorance and a lack of education). Using words properly lets us communicate clearly, and only those with a vested interest in mis- and disinformation would disagree.

And, apropos whiskey and snakes, Mr. W.C. Fields would agree that it's good form to credit the sources of the witticisms one appropriates.

[abigailsmybaby]

You’re the one who posted a link to Merriam-Webster with the comment for the author of the article to do more research before she spews. The author referenced the Merriam-Webster opinion then stated her opinion.

So what’s your problem?

Can’t credit Mr. Fields. Out of space. Who died and made you boss anyway?

[abigailsmybaby]

My bad.

[FoxInSocks]

No kidding. Just saying that “decimated” is another fine example of a word that doesn’t mean what most people think it means.