PSA: "exponentially" does not mean "very much". Please instruct journos and pols in this matter.

[eppur_se_muova]

?d147ee

Overuse, misuse, and abuse of the term "exponentially" in public expositions seems to be increasing ... well, a lot, lately. But not exponentially.

(Probably more of a sigmoidal curve, which eventually reaches saturation. But I'd prefer to head off that eventuality.)

[Xipe Totec]

1. They mean Asymptotically

[Gman]

3. Exactly

[eppur_se_muova]

4. They mean "a lot". It's just another superlative to them.

Speaking to reporters at the residence of the U.S. ambassador to France, Kerry said the ceasefire envisioned by the political process agreed upon in Vienna on Saturday would exponentially help efforts to fight the Islamic State group, which has claimed responsibility for the Paris attacks that killed 129 people, as well as end the drawn-out Syrian conflict, which has gone on for over four years.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10141263234

[Xipe Totec]

5. Yea, in the context as you show they mean "a lot"

Perhaps they should use hyperbolically instead of exponentially. I think that would be accurate.

As in hyperbole, and not hyperbola.

[Recursion]

7. Interesting thing about hyperbole vs hyperbola

There are six conic sections: point, line, ellipse, circle, parabola, hyperbola. Each of those is a manner of argument:

pointed argument, linear argument, elliptical argument (leaving things out), circular argument, parabolic argument (using parables), hyperbolic argument (using hyperbole).

The etymologies of hyperbole and hyperbola are identical, from the Greek word meaning "throw beyond" (parabola and parable are from "throw along" or "throw beside&quot . And this isn't just a coincidence; the geometers and rhetoricians of the time thought that studying rhetoric was a pre-requisite to studying geometry because of those connections they saw.

[Xipe Totec]

8. The trivial and the quadrivial

The seven liberal arts and sciences are:

grammar, rhetoric, logic,

arithmetic, geometry, music, and astronomy.

The first three were considered the three basic paths to knowledge. Hence, trivia and trivial.

The advanced paths to knowledge were the quadrivium and were thought in advanced centers of knowledge, the cathedra; the chair.

[Donald Ian Rankin]

12. I'm pretty sure they don't.

"Increasing asymptotically" doesn't mean anything on its own; it's transitive. You can increase asymptotically to something, but you can't just increase asymptotically.

[Xipe Totec]

14. This thread is asymptotically approaching topic saturation nt

[Gman]

2. Journalists now take the easy cop out math courses for credit

Never had it in HS. And it shows.

[Android3.14]

6. Perhaps

I'm a journalist, however, and my undergrad degree is in mathematics. Minored in English.

[Gman]

9. They have the math for non-math majors

Which is why retry popular. Many just want to get a grade and that's ok. But my perception is that too often the job title and even degree that says journalist is interpreted by the holder as qualified to speak and analyze just about everything with the authority of a journalist.

[Blue_Tires]

10. Are you sure they don't mean the business definition?

http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/exponential-growth.html

[eppur_se_muova]

11. The business definition is the same as the mathematical -- nothing wrong there.

See response 4 for an example of how it's being used lately to mean "a lot" or "very".

[Blue_Tires]

13. that's fine...

forgive me, I usually enjoy a 'nuances of language' thread, but I'm not much in the mood today...

[DisgustipatedinCA]

15. I literally died laughing when I read the OP.

But I seem to have recovered in time to post. Your OP makes a good point; I just wanted to throw one of my pet peeves on the pile.