Which of the following best describes a verbal dispute?
A) a disagreement that over what is factual
B) an apparent disagreement in which two people believe they are disagreeing but in fact are only using the same words in different ways
C) a disagreement over what words to use to describe a situation
D) None of these answers is correct.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A verbal dispute is one in which two people mistakenly believe themselves to disagree because they are using the same words in different ways. If Jones speaks the sentence "He was here yesterday" while Smith speaks the sentence "He was not here yesterday," they may take themselves to disagree. But if each refers to a different person with the word "he," then they do not disagree. They are having a verbal dispute. Critical thinkers avoid verbal disputes by paying careful attention to how words are being used.

Which of the Following Best Describes a Verbal Dispute