But, the phrase immigrant, emigrant, illegal alien, and undocumented worker are so misused by so many different people for reasons of both ignorance and political correctness -- I think you've lost the battle before you even start.
I watch this forum often and see people use there, their and they're interchangeably and incorrectly, there's no way I can correct all of them, I don't even try.
I'm tired too of folks not understanding the difference between imply and infer nor anxious and eager.
Or folks who don't understand saying general consensus is as redundant as saying yellow jaundice.
And irregardless just stands my hair straight up, when people mean irrespective or regardless.
and on and on and on.
You've got some agenda here and you're quibbling basically about what is is.
There was a long thread about a week ago here on FR when the press would not classify correctly the immigration status of 29 illegal alien felons in New York. I don't know why the media doesn't do it -- PC I guess.
But, misrepresentation of someone's legal immigration status in the press is so common, that no one can hang their hat on such finite language one way or the other.
And, no more than me, you don't know the legal immigration status of this Indian family in Roanoke, Virginia.
But, my guess is as good as yours.
And, I think its worth checking their status.
Maybe. But I have to try. And if I can get a few to join me, well, who knows what may happen. It came into usage because someone started saying it. Maybe I can push it out of usage again.
I watch this forum often and see people use there, their and they're interchangeably and incorrectly, there's no way I can correct all of them, I don't even try.
Those are grammar mistakes. I wouldn't even try to correct grammar or spelling. For one thing I live in a glass house... But in a few cases the words are used to define something so that it sound different then what it is.
Take "undocumented worker" What is that? Well, it means someone who is working who is not carrying proper id. Most of my workday I am an "undocumented worker". Why would I carry my purse around with me? And it is used because it sounds harmless or at least not as bad as "illegal alien." That is why they use it. And that is why I call them on it.
And, no more than me, you don't know the legal immigration status of this Indian family in Roanoke, Virginia.
Never said that I did.
And, I think its worth checking their status.
Go ahead. And if they are illegal aliens they should be thrown out on their ear.