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From: rgh@inmet.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.nlang
Subject: Re: Re: Semantic Reversals (irregardless
Message-ID: <2027@inmet.UUCP>
Date: Sat, 9-Mar-85 02:40:58 EST
Article-I.D.: inmet.2027
Posted: Sat Mar  9 02:40:58 1985
Date-Received: Mon, 11-Mar-85 05:18:52 EST
Lines: 11
Nf-ID: #R:dual:-95300:inmet:7300039:000:628
Nf-From: inmet!rgh    Mar  7 14:02:00 1985

Helen Anne (dual!hav) sounds embittered that the American Heritage
Dictionary (my favorite!) dares to list "irregardless" [defined
as "regardless", and tagged as Nonstandard usage].  I don't understand
her attitude.  Various semiliterates DO use "irregardless" -- 
in cases similar to this, AHD helps me determine
what in the world the user might have been trying to say.  
That AHD lists the word does not mean they condone it (that's what
the "Nonstandard" tag is for), only that they recognize an unfortunately
widespread usage.  Dictionaries are descriptive, not prescriptive.

    Randy Hudson {ihnp4,harpo,ima}!inmet!rgh