• marcos@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    7
    ·
    3 months ago

    Because people use it, and if you say it everybody will understand without any ambiguity.

    • null@slrpnk.net
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      1
      arrow-down
      1
      ·
      edit-2
      3 months ago

      Then the meme is formatted incorrectly. Or “correctly”, if we define correct as “incorrect, but, you get it, so…”

      • Poik@pawb.social
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        1
        arrow-down
        1
        ·
        3 months ago

        Except, usage defines language. If it didn’t, English wouldn’t exist. Therefore, usage is correct when people understand and use it.

          • Poik@pawb.social
            link
            fedilink
            arrow-up
            1
            ·
            3 months ago

            Then why are you saying it’s incorrectly formatted? I’m directly backing its premise.

            • null@slrpnk.net
              link
              fedilink
              arrow-up
              1
              ·
              edit-2
              3 months ago

              “Octopi” is only “correct” because of common usage. Octopus does not have a Latin origin, so it doesn’t make sense to pluralize it that way. Which is to say it’s not technically correct, it’s just “correct”.

              In the proper format of this meme, the wojack in the middle should be obsessed with technical correctness, while the one on the right is fine with merely “correctness” (as in, enough people use it to make it understood).

              But since you can understand it, the format is merely “correct” (I’m being tongue-in-cheek to make a point)