at some point the term "exponential" entered the popular usage to refer to a single very large increase over a single previous value, an increase of which cannot by definition be exponential (because you can't define a curve with two points).

it's even in the nyt, which i believe is supposed to have people whose actual primary job it is to not let bullshit like that out the door.

i believe that there is an ongoing reduction in reading comprehension in the US, perhaps the world.