Sally Caves scripsit:
> Confusion about this word has caused many Americans to
> resort to "flammable," which I think is bad news, because if they now write
> that something is "inflammable," what do they mean?
That isn't the safety issue. "Flammable" has replaced "inflammable"
on trucks and such because it warns you to beware; as Quine says,
semi-literacy is not a capital crime.
> Will or won't your
> kid's pajamas burst into flames? GGGGG
In such contexts I usually see "non-flammable". But "inflammable"
is still used for all the metaphorical uses.
--
John Cowan http://www.ccil.org/~cowan cowan@ccil.org
You tollerday donsk? N. You tolkatiff scowegian? Nn.
You spigotty anglease? Nnn. You phonio saxo? Nnnn.
Clear all so! 'Tis a Jute.... (Finnegans Wake 16.5)