• starik@lemmy.today
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    23 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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      23 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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        21 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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        22 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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          22 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