prescriptive grammar
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noun
an approach to grammar that is concerned with establishing norms of correct and incorrect usage and formulating rules based on these norms to be followed by users of the language.
a set of grammatical rules based on such an approach.
QUIZZES
QUIZ YOURSELF ON “THEIR,” “THERE,” AND “THEY’RE”
Are you aware how often people swap around “their,” “there,” and “they’re”? Prove you have more than a fair grasp over these commonly confused words.
Question 1 of 7
Which one of these commonly confused words can act as an adverb or a pronoun?
Origin of prescriptive grammar
First recorded in 1930–35
Words nearby prescriptive grammar
prescribe, prescript, prescriptible, prescription, prescriptive, prescriptive grammar, prescriptivism, prescriptivist, prescutum, preseason, preselect
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021