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That fake photograph totally begs the question of whether there are wire bunnies in the first place.

(oops. probably more apt if you pretend I didn't write "wire" and so went straight from "are" to "bunnies.")

To beg the question does not mean "to raise the question." (e.g. "It begs the question, why is he so dumb?") This is a common error of usage made by those who mistake the word "question" in the phrase to refer to a literal question. Sadly, the error has grown more and more ubiquitous with time, such that even journalists, advertisers, and major mass media entities have fallen prey to "BTQ Abuse."

I know, I was going to make the whole post a panopoly of rethorical errors and mis-uses, but knowing how many copy-editors there are around here, I figured I'd just have the one and let you all quietly seethe until someone snapped.

I'll let it slide if you bring me a cupcake, Capn.

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