Discussion Forum (Archived)
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On my first time listening to your show (Dec. 29th), I was excited to hear the question regarding the pronunciation of the word "plethora". I anxiously anticipated a tangential discussion on how the word is commonly misused today, when, to my horror, I heard both commentators refer to the meaning as "a myriad". However, they did discuss the history of the word, which included references to what I consider the word's current correct usage.
Although plethora is commonly (mis)used to mean "a lot of" or "abundance", every dictionary I have looked at indicates the word means "an excess of" or "overabundance". None of the dictionaries I have perused over the years have even included "a lot" as even a secondary meaning. My wife was listening to your broadcast at the same time in a separate car, and we discussed this word after the show. She had never even known about the tendency to misuse the word and had always used it in the manner presented in the show. It took a trip to various online dictionaries before she was convinced.
So my question must either be 1) Am I incorrect about my belief that a plethora is an overabundance (which certainly would change the meaning of the sentence "Italy has a plethora of political parties") or 2) Why would a show about using words correctly reinforce the incorrect usage of the word plethora?
Thank you for an entertaining show!
best,
Craig Pike
Martha may have her own opinion, but here's mine. I am aware of what the dictionaries say and I'm aware what conservative language experts like Bryan Garner have to say about the "incorrect" usage of "plethora" (his advice is also repeated in the New Oxford American Dictionary). But dictionaries are slow on the uptake. I think plethora=a lot is an ordinary usage that has been missed by lexicographers and is here to stay. You'll find it used in thousands of professionally edited works such as Encyclopedia Britannica throughout the last century.
So, to reiterate: the lexicographers have missed a meaning, the style guides have wrongly assumed that means there is only one meaning to the word, and the mavens have taken this up as a battle cry without even looking at the evidence to see if the cause is worth fighting for. Plethora=a lot should be an accepted, standard usage everywhere.
If this sort of thing really occurs to your horror, then I suggest popcorn and Jujubees so you can enjoy the show.
Martha Barnette
Grant Barrett
Grant Barrett
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