# Newsflash! Latin phrases don't make your argument stronger. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [April 8, 2011, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/newsflash-latin-phrases-dont-make-your-argument-stronger/577704 "2011-04-08T19:25:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Farmer\_Jane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Farmer\_Jane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Farmer_Jane)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2011, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/newsflash-latin-phrases-dont-make-your-argument-stronger/577704/1 "2011-04-08T19:25:50Z")
I am not talking about\* et al. \*or _et cetera_ or _habeus corpus_ or _ante bellum_. Second only to armchair experts (aka chronic Googlers), THIS irritates me: 1. Logical fallacy + poor grammar + factual errors + “ad hominem” to prove your point that someone is arguing against you just because they don’t like you. Hey, jackass, sometimes you’re just wrong. 2. Misuse of a common Latin term. Forgivable, but it’s just one of those “things” that bugs me…kind of like when people type “ya’ll” or say “irregardless”. 3. Any Latin word (often italicized!) in a poorly written argument on a message board that has been thrown in to give you credence. :smack: _Tu quoque reductio ad absurdum_ _ab origine_ - I saw this actually misused on another board recently. _Modus operandi_ - somehow saying “MO” incorrectly isn’t as annoying as spelling that shit out and using it as a noun. _non sequitur_ used as a tactic to irritate instead of debate _persona non grata_ when talking about socioeconomic status I do use “ad nauseum” when I’m feeling sarcastic or trying to convey a certain feeling, but I’ve seen so many poor arguments infused with smatterings of Latin that I’m now afraid to use any of these terms I learned in my academic career. Sheesh. Talk about poisoning a language. Since teh invenshun of teh intarwebs I’m more likely to say, “That is a logical fallacy” and then explain why. I understand the use of foreign language is supposed to make you appear intelligent and educated, but I hate it when people use any old Latin term to sound “smarter”. And you _know_ they’re Googling that shit. I’m not a language jerk. I do teach English and I do study linguistics, but I’m really laid back when it comes to conversational English. I don’t know several languages. I’m just a baby in graduate school. I consulted my CMS manual all throughout undergrad and now it’s useless. This rant is about people who abuse and dilute the meaning of words borrowed from a dead language. No, wait. One more thing. When talking about history, you don’t need to italicize words such as _conquistadors_,\* mestizo\*, or _hacienda_. This is not an eighth grade vocabulary lesson. An italicized word can also imply an accent - something that is rarely used correctly. So unless you need to differentiate the English from the non-English, happen to be writing literature or are discussing a specific word, it’s not necessary. Just…stop…stop hurting America, you ignoramus you. Misuse of _e.g_., _i.e._, and _in lieu of_ are not outright atrocities but you should always double-check when writing an academic paper. See also: affect/effect and lie/lay. ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2011, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/newsflash-latin-phrases-dont-make-your-argument-stronger/577704/2 "2011-04-08T19:31:45Z")
Pssst - is it octopuses, octopi, or octopodes? [Ducks, runs 😛] ---
**Author:** ![GargoyleWB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gargoylewb/32/199_2.png) [@GargoyleWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GargoyleWB)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2011, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/newsflash-latin-phrases-dont-make-your-argument-stronger/577704/3 "2011-04-08T19:38:11Z")
au contrairum mon frerus ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2011, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/newsflash-latin-phrases-dont-make-your-argument-stronger/577704/4 "2011-04-08T19:39:59Z")
_shrugs_ It’s all Greek to me. ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2011, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/newsflash-latin-phrases-dont-make-your-argument-stronger/577704/5 "2011-04-08T19:42:31Z")
Ya’ll newcomers seem to find and use the pit right quick these days. Irregardless ya’ll is more than welcome to sit and swing on the porch with us’ns and sip some lemonade. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2011, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/newsflash-latin-phrases-dont-make-your-argument-stronger/577704/6 "2011-04-08T19:46:20Z")
Isthay antray is umbday. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2011, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/newsflash-latin-phrases-dont-make-your-argument-stronger/577704/7 "2011-04-08T19:53:32Z")
This is the only post in the thread with no misused Latin nor logical fallacy-inspired humor. I’m a riot at parties too. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Angel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d26b3c/32.png) [@Johnny\_Angel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Angel)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2011, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/newsflash-latin-phrases-dont-make-your-argument-stronger/577704/8 "2011-04-08T19:56:07Z")
If someone misuses a term, then correct them. Otherwise, it’s not a big deal. This language is part of the discourse for a reason. Remember, _abūsus nōn tollit ūsum_. ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2011, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/newsflash-latin-phrases-dont-make-your-argument-stronger/577704/9 "2011-04-08T19:56:41Z")
De gustibus non est disputandum. Or, in other words, Illegitimi non carborundum. ---
**Author:** ![Scuba\_Ben](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/278dde/32.png) [@Scuba\_Ben](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scuba_Ben)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2011, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/newsflash-latin-phrases-dont-make-your-argument-stronger/577704/10 "2011-04-08T19:56:57Z")
> [@jjimm](#): > > I’m a riot at parties too. True enough, that. I seem to recall the last Dopefest you were at, a riot broke out. I blame you. _Post hoc_ and all that. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2011, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/newsflash-latin-phrases-dont-make-your-argument-stronger/577704/11 "2011-04-08T19:57:08Z")
Ya’ll come back now, y’hear?? 😛 -XT ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2011, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/newsflash-latin-phrases-dont-make-your-argument-stronger/577704/12 "2011-04-08T20:17:18Z")
> [@](#): > > Pssst - is it octopuses, octopi, or octopodes? “Gimme an octopus. And while you’re at it, give me another.” Or _Cephalopods_ ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2011, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/newsflash-latin-phrases-dont-make-your-argument-stronger/577704/13 "2011-04-08T20:23:14Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > “Gimme an octopus. And while you’re at it, give me another.” Permission to use this as a sig? It’s just too right. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2011, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/newsflash-latin-phrases-dont-make-your-argument-stronger/577704/14 "2011-04-08T20:25:30Z")
Quis custodiet ipsos custodes? ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2011, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/newsflash-latin-phrases-dont-make-your-argument-stronger/577704/15 "2011-04-08T20:29:06Z")
> [@](#): > > Permission to use this as a sig? It’s just too right. If you want – I just made a minor variation on an old joke that originally used “Mongoose”, so I don’t think I “own” it. Use away. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2011, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/newsflash-latin-phrases-dont-make-your-argument-stronger/577704/16 "2011-04-08T20:30:37Z")
_Quidquid latine dictum sit, altum sonatur._ This thread inspired some googling that happened upon [this](http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A218882) website, which has a bunch of useful and amusing Latin phrases. \* Quantum materiae materietur marmota monax si marmota monax materiam possit materiari? \* How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood? ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2011, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/newsflash-latin-phrases-dont-make-your-argument-stronger/577704/17 "2011-04-08T20:31:07Z")
Carpe diem…let the buyer beware! 😛 (I actually saw someone use this once on another board…and they couldn’t get why people were laughing so hard. This was before Google I suppose, so I guess they couldn’t look it up) -XT ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2011, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/newsflash-latin-phrases-dont-make-your-argument-stronger/577704/18 "2011-04-08T20:32:00Z")
I just encountered this the other day on another forum. Someone was using _argumentum ad major **a** m_ without having a clue what it meant. Just because the majority think something is true does not make them wrong. I don’t quite agree with the OP, but I do think that, if you are going to use the Latin, know what it means. (And how to spell it). ---
**Author:** ![Ogre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecb155/32.png) [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2011, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/newsflash-latin-phrases-dont-make-your-argument-stronger/577704/19 "2011-04-08T20:35:38Z")
It’s “_ad nauseam_”. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2011, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/newsflash-latin-phrases-dont-make-your-argument-stronger/577704/20 "2011-04-08T20:39:17Z")
> [@CitizenPained](#): > > 1. Misuse of a common Latin term. Forgivable, but it’s just one of those “things” that bugs me…kind of like when people type “ya’ll” or say “irregardless”. And what exactly is wrong with the word _y’all_? It’s simply the plural form of the second person pronoun. It’s less ambiguous than _you_; it’s conversational in tone. What have you against it? Is there something innately superior in the Northern American way of speaking? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/newsflash-latin-phrases-dont-make-your-argument-stronger/577704.md?page=2)