• TrickDacy@lemmy.world
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    11 hours ago

    Someone needs to tell me how a quote and a scare quote differ and what the point of the latter term is

    • starik@lemmy.today
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      10 hours ago

      Scare quotes are used derogatorily. They can often be preceded with the term “so-called”. Like so-called “doctors” will rip you off with their so-called “x-rays”, when ChatGPT will do it for free.

      When spoken aloud, scare quotes are indicated by the speaker making bouncing bunny ears with their middle and forefingers.

      • TrickDacy@lemmy.world
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        10 hours ago

        That makes sense, but I think some people misuse that term and just think it’s a fun way to say quotes.

        • WesternInfidels@feddit.online
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          8 hours ago

          Yes. I believe I’ve seen some people say “scare quotes” to refer to actual quotations which are highlighted specifically because they are alarming. Which is understandable, I guess.

        • starik@lemmy.today
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          9 hours ago

          Hmmm, I haven’t noticed the term being misused frequently. It wasn’t in this case; chunes correctly identified the scare quotes in the OP

          • TrickDacy@lemmy.world
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            9 hours ago

            Yes I’m not saying it was used wrong here. “So called” is how I’ll try to think of it in the future. Thanks for putting it that way