anecdotal » antidotal
Spotted in the wild:
- I think that from antidotal evidence like Judy is bringing to bare and I could bring to bare from the early childhood education movement, it is indeed the case. (Brookings Press Forum transcript, Dec. 8, 1999)
- Mr. Steenburgh stated that there is a lot of antidotal evidence to support this. (Norfolk State University Committee Meeting Minutes, Dec. 12, 2003)
- Interestingly, though, during the past two or three years there is antidotal evidence that some individuals are moving to rural communities. (Technologies Across Nebraska Newsletter, Winter 2004/2005)
Analyzed or reported by:
- Arnold Zwicky at Language Log (The Fall Eggcorn Crop)
Marked questionable because it is difficult to imagine any semantic rationalization for using “antidotal (evidence)” (unless the evidence is thought to have curative powers). It should probably be considered a plain old malapropism.
1
Commentary by Will Dewey , 2006/09/14 at 3:54 am
Well, I used to think people told “antidotes” in order to cure boredom. But that explanation doesn’t work here.