익명 18:36

I want to know if the usage of the term “extra feminist” in a particular con...

I want to know if the usage of the term “extra feminist” in a particular context is correct according to the English language conventions

So, me and my friends were talking about a particular topic, when I said the following sentence to make a point -

There's a person who acts extra-feminist to curry favour…

As a concept, I believe there isn't something like extra feminism, in the sense you can't be more feminist that a usual feminist.

However, I was shot down by some friends saying that the combination of the words, extra and feminist doesn't exist and it's wrong usage.

I said no, I can use the words the way I used in my sentence to prove a point, and I am not trying to be offensive or mock feminism in any way, rather just using the words extra and feminism to indicate a person is very strongly acting or seems to look like they are doing more than the usual feminists.

Is the word I used correct? I realise there are opportunities to phrase it better, but at the end of the day, the disagreement between us arose from the fact that I used extra-feminist even though the word doesn't exist in the dictionary and my friends arguments being its not the correct usage.

Any insights to understanding this and clearing it out is appreciated! Please and thank you.

Edit : In case I don't use "curry favour", is it wrong to say "extra-feminist" as per language norms?



Top Answer/Comment:

From the OED

ADVERB
With adjectives or adverbs: Beyond the ordinary degree, unusually. Sometimes hyphenated in combinations; upon the resulting adjective a parasynthetic noun is occasionally formed, as extra-moral, extra-moralist.

So this means an extreme form or expression of feminism.

you can't be more feminist that a usual feminist.

Sure you can. You can be more vocal or adamant than most feminists. Or you can find fault with minor chauvinistic actions that most would not be bothered by.

And the attitude that you can't use graded adverbs for absolute adjectives results in pedants saying that phrases like "very unique" are meaningless.

상단 광고의 [X] 버튼을 누르면 내용이 보입니다