The AP has updated its Stylebook and now allows “hopefully” to be used as an adverb.

Many (or maybe most) of you were probably letting “hopefully” slip in your conversation and maybe even your prose. For instance: “Hopefully, I will remember to tell the editors in my life about this change from the AP.” Technically, that’s incorrect.

In response to the AP’s announcement, one commmenter wrote:

“When enough people fail to learn the rule, the mistake becomes the rule. This is change but not progress.”

Well, that’s what the English language is. It’s an amalgam of other languages, and therefore can never be static or adhere strictly to its rules. Its usage defines its rules. How many people use the word “peruse” in the wrong way? In my experience, most. And one day, far in the future, you may see “peruse” soften it’s definition, and maybe even be reversed.

On a side note, I’ve used “hopefully” as an adverb four times on joshmadison.com. Hopefully, I’ll be more mindful of its use in the future.

The Oatmeal gives us an illustrated guide to using an apostrophe. You mean it doesn’t mean, “Holy shit, here comes an ‘s’!”?

Already printed and posted on my wall.