So, I knew that flammable and inflammable meant the same thing, but I have always instinctively treated "flammable" with suspension, somehow viewing "inflammable" as the more respectful of the two. Turns out, I was right. Here's an interesting(?) piece of information:
"'Flammable' and 'inflammable' mean the same thing; they both mean 'easy to burn.' 'Inflammable' is the original word, but then in the 1920s, according to Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of English Usage, the National Fire Protection Association started encouraging people to use the word 'flammable' instead because they were worried people could mistakenly think 'inflammable' meant 'not flammable.' They saw it as a safety issue. "
Thank you Grammar Girl for this enlightening piece of information.
Audio Obsession: Violent Femmes- American Music
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