Grammar Quote by E.B. White
““Flammable. An oddity, chiefly useful in saving lives. The common word meaning "combustible" is inflammable. But some people are thrown off by the in- and think inflammable means "not combustible." For this reason, trucks carrying gasoline or explosives are now marked FLAMMABLE. Unless you are operating such a truck and hence are concerned with the safety of children and illiterates, use inflammable.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: “The Elements of Style” (or similar), 1959
The word “inflammable” means the same as “flammable,” but the prefix “in-” can mislead people into thinking it means “not.”
In simple terms: Inflammable = flammable, despite the “in-” prefix
Key Takeaway
Be aware of language ambiguity, especially in safety contexts
Themes
language
communication
misinterpretation
Mood
cautious
educational
Type
informative
advisory
When to use this quote
- writing manuals
- public signage
- education
- safety training
Key Concepts
semantics
lexicology
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we design warnings to avoid confusion?
- What role does education play in correcting misconceptions?
A Different Perspective
Even with clarification, people may still misinterpret warnings
![“Leo Crowley, Harry [Truman]'s Foreign Economic Administrator, tells Congressmen the theory...: 'If you create good governments in foreign countries, automatically you will have better markets for ourselves.' With that honeycunt staring you in the face, you'd forget your grammar too.” quote by Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/df0/anonymous-1_administrators_leo-crowley-harry-truman-s-foreign-econo_46095.jpg)