I'd never in a million years have identified Mark as a prescriptivist. On Tue, 2005-02-01 at 13:04, Philip Hart wrote: > On Tue, 1 Feb 2005, Steve Brust wrote: > > > Okay, someone check me if I'm wrong--I also like it when someone > > corrects my English errors (one of many reasons I so adore Pamela), but > > I've always used that phrase in this sense: > > > > "Bush was elected primarily by the backing of such industries as oil and > > major finance, which begs the question of who is served by the war in > > Iraq." In other words, "begs the question" means something like, > > "raises the question and simultaneously answers it." Is this correct, > > or am I asking the poor phrase to do too much work? > > My guess is that prescriptivists like me and Mark will consider that evil, > descriptivists won't get the circular part, and those in the middle will > wonder what You mean - a lose-lose-lose scenario unless You're trying to > fly under the radar smoothly as melted flax. >