this post was submitted on 09 Aug 2026
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Are we just making up language rules as we go? (lemmy.world)
submitted 1 week ago by The_Picard_Maneuver@lemmy.world to c/memes@lemmy.world
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[–] TabbsTheBat@pawb.social 33 points 1 week ago (29 children)

Ahh, I've been speaking english for over a decade, and I still sometimes get caught up with these and say the opposite thing of what I want

Like the whole thing of flammable and inflammable meaning the same thing.. just why?

[–] folekaule@lemmy.world 14 points 1 week ago (5 children)

"flammable" actually has an interesting story:

Since 1980s use of the word, especially in safety warnings, has been sometimes discouraged lest it be misunderstood as "non-flammable" through confusion of the two prefixes in-.

Ref: inflammable on Etymonline

[–] slothrop@lemmy.ca 2 points 1 week ago (1 children)

So which is sanctioned...?

[–] folekaule@lemmy.world 16 points 1 week ago (3 children)

Merriam-Webster says this:

"When cooking over a gas stove, avoid wearing loose, (flammable/inflammable) clothing that could catch fire easily." Which word is correct: flammable or inflammable?

It's a trick question. Both flammable and inflammable are correct, as they both mean "capable of being easily ignited and of burning quickly." This makes no sense to the Modern English speaker. In English, we think of in- as a prefix that means "not": inactive means "not active," inconclusive means "not conclusive," inconsiderate means "not considerate." Therefore, inflammable should mean "not flammable."

[...]

What do you do? If you want to keep things crystal clear, choose flammable when you are referring to something that catches fire and burns easily, and use the relatively recent nonflammable when referring to something that doesn't catch fire and burn easily. Inflammable is just likely to enflame confusion.

Personally I use "inflammable", but if I were writing warning posters I would have to reconsider that.

[–] surewhynotlem@lemmy.world 18 points 1 week ago

Personally I use "inflammable"

I also like to reduce the likelihood of being understood.

[–] bort@sopuli.xyz 10 points 1 week ago

Inflammable is just likely to enflame confusion

:-)

[–] Danquebec@sh.itjust.works 1 points 1 week ago

English-speakers are really unlucky to have one of the most ambiguous word for situations where the need for clarity is of such great importance, especially as it concerns safety, even saving lives.

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