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Pastimes : SI Grammar and Spelling Lab -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: The Philosopher who wrote (2816)	6/10/1999 2:56:00 PM
From: The Philosopher	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 4711

How about a discussion of words or usages which are entering the language and discussing: a) whether these words or usages should or should not be accepted in 1) informal and 2) formal usage, and b) a more challenging topic, what criteria should be used in deciding which words or usages should be approved and which should be rejected by "literate" users (a term I resolutely refuse to define beyond saying I know a literate user when I read one). (I am assuming without discussion that there are and should be differences between informal and formal usage. I am not interested in discussing this question, but take it as a given.) I used emoticon in a message to Joan. Should it be accepted by literate writers as a legitimate word? My mother fought bitterly against using "contact" as verb. I use it that way, finding no useful alternative which is not either less precise or more awkward.