absolutely

[phaloides]

I listen to the wireless quite a lot and during discussions or interviews the answer to a question is often ...ABSOLUTELY.
Do you go swimming? Oh ABSOLUTELY.
Is that cat next door a pest? Oh ABSOLUTELY
Is this answer supposed to convey an authority or certainty that a simple "yes" or "definitely" does'nt.
The only Absolute I know is -273.15 degrees centgade which is Absolute Zero also expressed as 0 K ..ok.
Do I think this verbal practice should stop? Oh ABSOLUTELY>

[Quizmonster]

A "Do you mean to say that if he was all right and proper otherwise you'd be indifferent about the earl part of the business?"

B "Absolutely."

The above part of a conversation is an extract from Mark Twain's American Claimant published in 1892. It is clearly an Americanism that has been around for a considerable time which now has - like so many of these things - caught on here, too.
You're just going to have to live with it, I'm afraid, Phaloides.

[LotusEater]

I think it was Laurie Anderson (she of 'O, Superman' fame) who said/sang that "Language is a virus."

[jno]

I suspect it is because 'Yes' is such a short word that it sounds unemphatic. In real life, if you listen to (or take part in) a conversation, people say Yes all the time. But when they really want to stress a point (and they probably do if they're being interviewed on radio) they'll go for a longer word.

I think Definitely is the same - I'm not sure why you think it's better than Absolutely?

[Octavius]

Most definitely 100% agree with absolutely all of you.

[LotusEater]

Re: Absolutely. There's a old Bill Nelson single which towards the end runs "absolutely...absolutely...absolutely...Oh, pardon me, must be those atomic vitamins I'm taking."

[heathfield]

I loathe, (and detest, even), 'arguably' in place of 'perhaps'.

[ali_alic]

I work in sales and am taught to use words such as "absolutely", "superb", "definately" etc. All these words are positive, you must even phrase questions so that the "prospects" answer will be in the positive. Apparenly they are then more likely to be positive about buying your "goods". Annoying thing is I even catch myself saying "superb", "super" etc when I'm off duty!!

[Mr Songman]

I agree Phaloides. The use of "absolutely" in the first example you give is entirely unacceptable. Yes is the answer!

absolutely

� adverb 1 with no qualification, restriction, or limitation

However, it's use by Mark Twain is acceptable as it conveys the message that his answer is in the affirmative with no restrictions or limitations.

The accepted rule is that if the word can be loosely replaced by the above definition it is okay, if a little affected. If it can't then a simple yes should suffice!

Q. Do you think Angelina Jolie is attractive?

A Absolutely!

Q. Is Angelina Jolie in Girl Interrupted?

A Yes!

[Quizmonster]

Alec Waugh used the word 'absolutely' to mean 'emphatically, yes' in Loom of Youth, published in 1917, as did James Joyce in Ulysses published in 1922. The word ceased to be just an Americanism, therefore, all but a century ago.
If the swimming person mentioned in the question wanted to stress the fact that swimming was an enthusiasm of his/hers rather than just a vague or occasional interest, why on earth wouldn't he/she say 'Oh, absolutely!' in response to the question: 'Do you go swimming?' All he/she is saying is: "Yes...I most assuredly do go swimming!"
There is nothing whatever wrong with it.

[Mr Songman]

Quoting someone else who made the same mistake is hardly an argument for the use of "absolutely" in place of a simple yes!!

"Alec Waugh used the word 'absolutely' to mean 'emphatically, yes' in Loom of Youth, published in 1917"
And he was mistaken!

"as did James Joyce in Ulysses published in 1922."

Who was equally in error!!

Your ability, Quizmonster, to research and regurtgitate information that you find is impressive. Your ability to judge it's merits however, leaves a lot to be desired

"If the swimming person mentioned in the question wanted to stress the fact that swimming was an enthusiasm of his/hers rather than just a vague or occasional interest, why on earth wouldn't he/she say 'Oh, absolutely!' in response to the question: "

Because it's wrong!!! the answer is " yes, very much!" or "Yes,all the time!" There are many possibilities without resorting to "absolutely" which is absolutely wrong!!

.

[jno]

as I'm sure QM will point out in due course, there is no right or wrong in the English language. There is no language police force to prosecute you, no lexical court to convict you. (The French do have an academy that rules on whether a usage is right or wrong; needless to say, people heed it when it suits them and not otherwise.)

The only useful test of 'correctness' is whether you are understood by the people you want to understand you. Txtspk may be extremely irritating to the eyes, but it is a sensible way of communicating on screens an inch wide - but you still have to use words, even abbreviated ones, that are commonly understood. 'Absolutely' is fine, even if it is used chiefly by illiterates like James Joyce and Mark Twain.

[Mr Songman]

I agree with you absolutely jno!]

My point really is that when it comes to "correct english", quoting anybody who has used a word or phrase previously does not make it any more correct than it makes it incorrect!!

What is correct today, and I use the term loosely, may have been considered incorrect in the past and may be considered equally so at some point in the future!

That, after all, is what makes the english language as versatile and widespread as it is!!

Just the devil in me playing advocate :)

[Quizmonster]

Thanks for the support, J. What you say is clearly correct.
The Oxford English Dictionary (TOED) is quite content that this colloquial usage of 'absolutely' is acceptable. But it is not the only 'bible' I consult in matters of acceptability in English. Here's what Fowler's Modern English Usage (FMEU) has to say on the matter...(quote)

"In conversation, absolutely is a pleasingly old-world variation of 'yes, quite so.'"

Thus, Phaloides, you are faced with a stark - though absurdly simple - choice...to go with Mr Songman in believing it to be unacceptable or to join TOED, FMEU - and me, of course! - in finding it perfectly acceptable.
The first two of the final trio, regardless of what anyone thinks of the judgement of the third, are considered authoritative with regard to the current question. The first is happy with the 'emphatic yes' use of 'absolutely' and the second seems to be positively charmed by it!

Happily in the company of James Joyce, I rest my case. Let others add what they may.

[Mr Songman]

Oh dear. And I was only playing!!

But if we are indeed going to be pedantic,and it seems we are:

"In conversation, absolutely is a pleasingly old-world variation of 'yes, quite so."

That was already blatantly obvious as it was the topic under discussion!! The point was whether it was "acceptable" or not. Does Fowler tell you what your opinion should be on that?

The OED is also the same esteemed publication that insists that dear William spelled his name Shakspere but nobody takes a blind bit of notice of that either.

The OED is a guide, a reference for further thought. It is not there to tell you what you should think or how you should think.

If the accepted definition of a word tells you that it doesn't make sense being used to simply imply the affirmative, then common sense will tell you that it's wrong regardless of any reference books "opinion" to the contrary. And regardless of how many people use it!

And if it doesn't make sense, how can it be acceptable?

"Thus, Phaloides, you are faced with a stark - though absurdly simple - choice"

Is it me again, or hadn't Phaloides made his thoughts clear on this subject from the outset?

Who was it that said?

"Whenever you find that you are on the side of the majority, it is time to reform"

Oh yes......Mark Twain!!!

[johnizere]

basically, it drives me absolutely mad....at the end of the day!

[quisling]

Can I propose a solution for those that can't live with its use? Move to Spain. It's unintuitive for people learning Spanish that when you use 'en absoluto' to a phrase it means absolutely not and conveys extreme antipathy. But then that's probably equally objectionable to many. (Who else is really really irritated when people say equally good as... equally pedantic as etc?)

[AB Editor]

just to add my two cents in:

last week on Radio 4's Today Show I happened to hear an interviewee answer a question with just "Yes".

It completely caught John Humphries and his studio guest by surprise and after a short giggle they continued with the interview.

Definitely a radio 'don't!