You criticise 4chan speakers as sounding uneducated. That's a judgment about class, not content. Do you really think the purpose of education is class mobility, rather than, say, argumentative, expositional, philosophical and technical knowledge and skills? A criticism that their writing as uninformed, uninteresting and pointless would have more substance (which you imply with "morons".)
I agree that if one wants to impress others, perhaps seeking preferential favour, one had best take care to sound "educated" (for that specific aim, it doesn't matter whether one actually has the knowledge and skills of education, since it's just about appearance). If one seek to communicate with others, to relate, to collaborate, to share information, clarity is more important than sounding educated.
Of course, arbitrarily humpty-dumpty incorrect usage will confuse listeners, but the style guide fusses about what "acronym" and "alternative" mean, strictly and technically. Can you give an example where the specific incorrect use they mention is less clear?
BTW: I probably should have replied to the top comment about "acronyms".
Where does it say to "use the clearest word"? The word "clear" doesn't come up when I search for it on that page...
You're probably already read Orwell's piece at some point - if not, have a look, it's great.
To be fair, the guide doesn't outright state "use the clearest word", but the implication's clear; the entries for pressurise and for critique, for example.
I agree that if one wants to impress others, perhaps seeking preferential favour, one had best take care to sound "educated" (for that specific aim, it doesn't matter whether one actually has the knowledge and skills of education, since it's just about appearance). If one seek to communicate with others, to relate, to collaborate, to share information, clarity is more important than sounding educated.
Of course, arbitrarily humpty-dumpty incorrect usage will confuse listeners, but the style guide fusses about what "acronym" and "alternative" mean, strictly and technically. Can you give an example where the specific incorrect use they mention is less clear? BTW: I probably should have replied to the top comment about "acronyms".
Where does it say to "use the clearest word"? The word "clear" doesn't come up when I search for it on that page...
You're probably already read Orwell's piece at some point - if not, have a look, it's great.