Why are lactate and lactic acid used synonymously in biochemistry?

In science there's always a misuse of the two terms. I know that lactate is the conjugate base of lactic acid.

Why are they used like is the same thing? For exemple: in lactic acid bacteria (LAB) fermentation it's often said that anaerobic glycolysis produces lactic acid, but if you actually look at the reaction it produces lactate.

Is this relevant? Because lactate is a negative compound while lactic acid is a neutral one.