Proscribe vs. Prescribe
I’m far from the best writer out there, and my excuse for not learning a second language is that I’m still trying to learn my first. However, when I see an article on a major news outlet (ABC News) written by someone who is supposed to be at the upper echelon of news reporters (Barbara Walters), I expect them to understand the different between “proscribe” and “prescribe”.
In her article describing a jail house interview with Paris Hilton, Ms. Walters writes:
She wears the proscribed prison garb: an orange or brown jumpsuit.
If that sentence is correct, then Ms. Hilton is getting preferential treatment since she is wearing garb specifically forbidden by the prison, which is in contradiction to Ms. Walters implication in the rest of the article that Ms. Hilton is not receiving any preferential treatment.
In our version of the English language, “proscribe” is a verb which basically means, “to denounce or condemn.”, while “prescribe” is a verb which means, “to set down as a rule or guide; to order the use of.” In this case, Ms. Walters got confused.
Many businesses have dress guidelines. In many cases, they specify that you must wear appropriate attire, and proscribe, for example, that you can’t wear shorts, t-shirts, jeans, and sneakers. However, there are many jobs out there where you must wear a provided uniform. In that case, they prescribe that you must wear a UPS approved uniform, for example. Which verb you use depends on which subset is smaller and easier to define.
Prisons almost always have a prescribed dress code for inmates, usually something along the line of a bright orange jumpsuit, to make it easier for law enforcement officials to spot if someone makes a break for it. I’m guessing that the language police will put out an A.P.B. on Ms. Walters shortly.
Update: The error has been fixed in an updated version of the article.
