Standard English

American  

[stan-derd ing-glish, -lish] / ˈstæn dərd ˈɪŋ glɪʃ, -lɪʃ /

noun

1. the English language in its most widely accepted form, adhering to fixed academic norms of spelling, grammar, and usage in written and spoken contexts, and neutralizing nonstandard dialectal variation.

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Etymology

Origin of Standard English

First recorded in 1870–75

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Standard English

In a study by professor Neil Kirk, most Scottish participants assumed AI-generated Scottish Standard English or Dundonian Scots voices were human.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 13, 2026

Standard English punctuation is still alive and well; in the online world, nonstandard punctuation is alive and well.…

From The New Yorker ● Dec. 10, 2015

Remember, for many Americans, Standard English is only used in formal settings—business and school, but not home.

From Slate ● Oct. 1, 2014

Grammarians push Standard English at the expense of other forms, he asserts.

From BBC ● May 13, 2013

Being a Series of newly edited and beautifully printed Demy Octavo Library Editions of Standard English Authors, from the most correct Text.

From Notes and Queries, Number 219, January 7, 1854 A Medium of Inter-communication for Literary Men, Artists, Antiquaries, Genealogists, etc by Various