begging the question

[Peter A. McGraw]

Using "beg the question" synonymously with "raise the question" seems
pretty widespread in broadcast journalism.  It certainly isn't confined to
sportscasters: I hear it all the time on ABC News and I think also NPR.  I
think this usage was discussed awhile back on this list.

Peter Mc.

--On Thursday, July 5, 2001 11:00 AM -0400 George Thompson
<george.thompson at NYU.EDU> wrote:

> I have on several occasions heard Gary Cohen, a radio broadcaster for
> the NY Mets, use the phrase "beg the question" incorrectly.

[snip]

  These quotations beg the question: is
> it becoming a common usage to use the phrase "beg the question" as if
> it means "asks the question" or "raises the question"?



****************************************************************************
                               Peter A. McGraw
                   Linfield College   *   McMinnville, OR
                            pmcgraw at linfield.edu