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Guest Posted 22 years ago
Vocabulary
Question on the usage of 'dated'
The word ‘dated’ is defined in many dictionaries (e.g., MW, Oxford, Cambridge, American Heritage) as:
Main Entry: dat·ed
Function: adjective
1 : provided with a date
2 : OUTMODED, OLD-FASHIONED
- dat·ed·ly adverb
- dat·ed·ness noun
Following usage illustrates meaning #2:
The article is slightly dated.
That book is dated but has stood the test of time.
Now, a friend contends that the dictionaries have it wrong. Meaning #1 (provided with a date) is the only correct meaning.
As for meaning #2 (outmoded), people have misused it long enough, so now it has entered the dictionaries.
Any thoughts on the history of using ‘dated’ to mean outmoded or old-fashioned? Is it incorrect usage?
Thanks,
Cindy Lee.
Main Entry: dat·ed
Function: adjective
1 : provided with a date
2 : OUTMODED, OLD-FASHIONED
- dat·ed·ly adverb
- dat·ed·ness noun
Following usage illustrates meaning #2:
The article is slightly dated.
That book is dated but has stood the test of time.
Now, a friend contends that the dictionaries have it wrong. Meaning #1 (provided with a date) is the only correct meaning.
As for meaning #2 (outmoded), people have misused it long enough, so now it has entered the dictionaries.
Any thoughts on the history of using ‘dated’ to mean outmoded or old-fashioned? Is it incorrect usage?
Thanks,
Cindy Lee.
Top answer
Hi Cindy, 'Dated' meaning 'outmoded' is certainly not incorrect, but probably much the more common usage, outside of the set phrase 'this letter, dated 2 January'. While Oxford calls it colloquial, Webster's makes no such distinction. As to its history, I can only say that use is not mis-use if followed by a considerable number of native speakers: if that is what it has come to mean, then that is the normal evolution of the idiom.
- Hi Cindy, 'Dated' meaning 'outmoded' is certainly not incorrect, but probably much the more common usage, outside of the set phrase 'this letter, dated 2 January'.
- While Oxford calls it colloquial, Webster's makes no such distinction.
- As to its history, I can only say that use is not mis-use if followed by a considerable number of native speakers: if that is what it has come to mean, then that is the normal evolution of the idiom.
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1 Answers
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Hi Cindy,
'Dated' meaning 'outmoded' is certainly not incorrect, but probably much the more common usage, outside of the set phrase 'this letter, dated 2 January'. While Oxford calls it colloquial, Webster's makes no such distinction.
As to its history, I can only say that use is not mis-use if followed by a considerable number of native speakers: if that is wha
'Dated' meaning 'outmoded' is certainly not incorrect, but probably much the more common usage, outside of the set phrase 'this letter, dated 2 January'. While Oxford calls it colloquial, Webster's makes no such distinction.
As to its history, I can only say that use is not mis-use if followed by a considerable number of native speakers: if that is wha
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