Curmudgeons' Corner

Bruce Yanoshek is back, begging you not to beg the question improperly

Today I once more heard someone say "That begs the question ..." when he meant "That raises the question ... ". Begging the question is an error in logic or debate, in which the desired answer is built into the question, making the question rather meaningless. A certain popular game show host, in interviewing the contestants, sometimes makes this same mistake, and I am tired of it. My suggestion is that people learn what an expression means before they use it.

Is there something you read or hear that sends you up the wall?

Do tell us. 

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