Re: Refutations and the Middle J (was Re: Another Alxasaurus query & others)

[Dinogeorge@aol.com]

In a message dated 2/9/99 9:51:23 PM EST, Dwight.Stewart@VLSI.com writes:

<< Normally, we use refute/support in describing how data relates to
 a hypothesis.
        A given data set may tend to support or refute a given hypothesis,
 but it does not
        necessarily settle the issue.  New data may do the opposite. >>

It's not an "either/or" situation, which is what would be required to have a
true antonym. Most data neither support nor refute a hypothesis; they're
generally irrelevant. Antonyms: "support/not support" and "refute/not refute,"
but not "support/refute" (or, for that matter, "not support/not refute"),
despite popular usage (as described above).