orthent (orthent) wrote in linguaphiles,
orthent
orthent
linguaphiles

Missing

The other day, I came across an odd rant in the blog of a self-published true crime writer, who claimed that it was inappropriate to use the word "missing" in connection with a person who might have voluntarily disappeared or taken their own life. According to him, "missing" was properly reserved for those likely to be victims of a crime like abduction or murder. He actually got kind of indignant about it.

I realize that sometimes the connotation of a word may trump its dictionary definition, but I've never heard this writer's argument before and it just seems bizarre to me.

Any thoughts? Is he right?
Subscribe

  • Anatomy of a "CUNT"

    The word CUNT is not simple, but compound. It consists of two parts. However, first of all, let's get rid of prejudices. The word CUNT is as…

  • a Russian name for the letter Q

    The letter Q looks like the letter O , but with a small tail at the bottom. Could the name of the letter Q relate to this tail? It is…

  • The Touchy Subject

    Apparently, English etymologists are ticklish. That's why they don't want to touch on some sensitive topics. And very important ones. Let's take…

  • Post a new comment

    Error

    Anonymous comments are disabled in this journal

    default userpic

    Your reply will be screened

    Your IP address will be recorded 

    Help
  • 24 comments

  • Anatomy of a "CUNT"

    The word CUNT is not simple, but compound. It consists of two parts. However, first of all, let's get rid of prejudices. The word CUNT is as…

  • a Russian name for the letter Q

    The letter Q looks like the letter O , but with a small tail at the bottom. Could the name of the letter Q relate to this tail? It is…

  • The Touchy Subject

    Apparently, English etymologists are ticklish. That's why they don't want to touch on some sensitive topics. And very important ones. Let's take…