You're NOT Begging the Question! STOP SAYING THAT!

Twice today I've read columnists who wrote, 'This begs the question: [Insert question here]'

I have no illusion of this post changing the world, but it will make me feel better to say it . . .

THAT'S NOT WHAT 'BEGGING THE QUESTION' MEANS! STOP SAYING IT! THAT'S WRONG! STOP IT NOW!

Begging the question is a logical fallacy that assumes the conclusion to an argument in one of the premises. It is NOT synonymous with 'demanding a question.'

So please . . . Make a difference in your world today. If you hear someone say 'that begs the question' and what they mean is 'that demands a question be asked,' please tell them to stop it. Now.

Comments

[Nate]

I hate this, too. I'm a linguist, and I know language changes based on usage, not logic, but for crying out loud, why don't people just stop doing this???!!!

We used to have a phrase that went like this, "This promts the question..."

I rarely see anyone use this anymore.