For example, “flammable” and “inflammable” both describe an object that can easily catch on fire. I can also think of “ceased” and “deceased”, both of which can mean someone or something has been brought to an end.

edit: Some people are including words that can also mean its opposite (like sanction or table), those are cool too! The more weird words, the better!

  • YappyMonotheist@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    17
    arrow-down
    2
    ·
    2 days ago

    I don’t think either were ever said by competently literate people (wtf is “irregardless”? And do they mean they could “care less” about a subject or do they mean the opposite but don’t understand negation?) so idk if this fits what OP was saying entirely. They’re just obvious mistakes that have been normalized as people got dumber, right?

    • TORFdot0@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      9
      ·
      2 days ago

      Irregardless means “without a lack of regard”. Ergo vis-à-vis if you say irregardless you are actually fully regarded

    • jaycifer@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      2
      arrow-down
      1
      ·
      2 days ago

      Well, I could care less, but I don’t care enough to determine exactly how little I could.

    • baggachipz@sh.itjust.works
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      2
      ·
      2 days ago

      People will defend those until they’re blue in the face, and I don’t know why. It’s always the “language is always in a state of flux” bullshit, like improper negations are normal and expected.