Use–mention distinction

In analytic philosophy, a fundamental distinction is made between the ordinary use of a term (a word, name, phrase, etc.) versus the self-aware mention of it. The distinction between use and mention can be illustrated with the English word "cheese":

  1. Cheese is derived from milk.
  2. Cheese is derived from the Old English word ċēse.

The first sentence is a statement about the edible substance called "cheese". It demonstrates a use or usage; the writer is using the normal English word "cheese", in its typical way, to refer to the common dairy product. The second is a statement about the very word "cheese" itself as a linguistic entity. This second sentence provides a mention; the writer is mentioning the word but not using it to refer to anything other than itself.

The use–mention distinction can sometimes be pedantic, especially in simple cases where it is obvious. However, scholars argue that many philosophical works have been misguided, or misinterpreted by others, based on a failure to understand or recognize this basic distinction.

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