Many non-native and even native speakers of English get the impression from the prefix 'in' that the word 'INFLAMMABLE' means 'CANNOT BURN'.

However, it means the opposite: 'CAN BURN' or even 'BURNS LIKE HELL'.

It is the monstrously ugly 'UNINFLAMMABLE' that means 'CANNOT BURN'.

Tragically, this common misunderstanding may lead, and in the past has led, to fires and burn victims.

In industry the words 'FLAMMABLE' (meaning 'inflammable') and 'NON-FLAMMABLE' (meaning 'uninflammable') have been introduced in order to prevent dangerous misunderstandings.

I am told this helps. Within industry, that is.

But ordinary 'household' end users of industrial products, and e.g. motorists on the motorway, still tend to be confused, taking 'FLAMMABLE' and 'INFLAMMABLE' for a pair of antonyms, meaning 'CAN BURN' and 'CANNOT BURN' respectively (whereas, if you have not gone bonkers yet, you now know they mean the same 'CAN BURN').

The problem seems insolvable, or unsolvable if you prefer, or even insoluble.

So remember: you had better never play with fire ...

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