not a purist, but…

I’ve said this before on this blog… I’m not a language “purist,” because I think English is a living language and needs to evolve under the pressure of changing realities. And I hate language purists and pedants, as a rule. More often than not, they are narcissistic snobs with little to offer for anyone else.

However, I cringe every time I hear the word “gift” used as a verb. Really cringe.

Why? I’m not really sure why I dislike this one so much. Partly it sounds a bit stupid, since “give” is perfectly fine. And partly it just sounds contrived, like a deliberate marketing gimmick in the guise of a natural folk-driven linguistic evolution.

iTunes has a “gift this song” option. It makes me want to spit on the sidewalk.