Re: [libreoffice-users] SOT - interesting article!

On 22 September 2014 12:41, Brian Barker <b.m.barker@btinternet.com> wrote:
> At 12:28 22/09/2014 -0500, T. R. Valentine wrote:
> > On 22 September 2014 12:00, Brian Barker wrote:
> > > What a pity they cannot spell "flak" - even in a headline!
> >
> >
> > http://www.thefreedictionary.com/flak
> > Both are correct.
>
>
> No: sorry, but that's silly, of course. A dictionary's purpose is to help
> readers understand what they find - correct or incorrect. So any dictionary
> worth its salt will indeed list common wrong versions as well as correct
> ones. They are descriptive and don't provide any imprimatur. As someone
> memorably said, "_Fliegerabwehrkanone_ has nineteen letters, none of which
> is a C"!

No, a dictionary is typically said to be descriptive rather than
prescriptive. But it doesn't say something is acceptable when it is
not.

For example, at the same site, try
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Priviledge
it redirects you to the correct spelling and has nothing about
spelling with a 'd' being acceptable (because it isn't).

Merriam-Webster also says 'flack' is an alternative spelling for 'flak'.
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flack

Different dictionaries use different labelling, but will generally
distinguish between equally valid (e.g. theatre/theater); acceptable,
but as a second, less-desirable choice  (which is what I believe
flak/flack is), and non-standard or substandard (e.g. irregardless). A
web site will try to anticipate misspelt words (Google's search is
very good at that, and that is what thefreedictionary.com is doing
with 'priviledge'), but that isn't the same thing.



-- 
T. R. Valentine
A rich heart may be under a poor coat.

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