Standard English
[ stan-derd ing-glish or, often, -lish ]
/ ˈstæn dərd ˈɪŋ glɪʃ or, often, -lɪʃ /
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noun
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.
QUIZ
CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?
There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?
Question 1 of 7
Which sentence is correct?
Origin of Standard English
First recorded in 1870–75
historical usage of Standard English
Many languages have an “Academy” of scholars and politicians to establish the rules of the standard dialect. English does not have an equivalent body, but rather relies on academic linguists, publishing style guides, and commercial dictionaries to cobble together the parameters of Standard English . Consequently, Standard English is slightly less uniform and less prescriptive than the standard forms of most other modern languages.
Words nearby Standard English
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use Standard English in a sentence
For simplicity, attention will be confined to the London dialect, as the forerunner of modern Standard English.