The use–mention distinction is a foundational concept of analytic philosophy, according to which it is necessary to make a distinction between using a word (or phrase) and mentioning it, and many philosophical works have been "vitiated by a failure to distinguish use and mention". The distinction is disputed by non-analytic philosophers. The distinction between use and mention can be illustrated for the word cheese: Use: cheese is derived from milk. Mention: "cheese" is derived from the Old English word "cyse". The first sentence is a statement about the substance called "cheese"; it uses the word...