I lately lost a preposition

[Arnold M. Zwicky]

On Feb 5, 2008, at 8:59 PM, Randy Alexander wrote, of things like
"More data doesn't always equate knowledge":

> Don't those sound like they're just using "equate" to mean "equal"?
> Is this
> an eggcorn?

possibly just a word choice error, as you suggest.  but it would be
just an ordinary malapropism, not the special eggcorn case.  there are
huge numbers of (classical) malapropisms that aren't eggcorns.

as a malapropism, the choice of "equate" might involve reaching for a
fancy, serious-sounding word.

arnold

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