rggoebel (12/29/82)
I don't often respond to discussions in this group, but it's the "holidays," so I read about 'flammable' and recalled my favourite passage from White and Strunk's "Elements of Style:" Flammable. An oddity, chiefly useful in saving lives. The common word meaning "combustible" is 'inflammable' ['' is italics]. But some people are thown 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'. Mine is the third edition, published in 1979 by MacMillan. The quote on flammable is from page 47.