Category Archives: Uncategorized

Prescriptivism and how it all began

Posted on September 17, 2011 by Ingrid Tieken

In the English language, the rise of prescriptivism is closely linked with the publication of Robert Lowth’s Short Introduction to English Grammar, in 1762. One of the new features of this grammar was the appearance of detailed criticism of grammatical … Continue reading →

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The end of prescriptivism?

Posted on September 14, 2011 by Ingrid Tieken

David Crystal wrote the final chapter of Lynda Mugglestone’s The Oxford History of English (OUP 2006), and in that chapter, he focusses on the way English will be developing in the course of the 21st century. One important effect on … Continue reading →

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Special issue of English Today

Posted on September 13, 2011 by Ingrid Tieken

Last year, a special issue appeared of English Today, entirly focussed on usage guides. Topics included how Fowler became “The Fowler”, taboo and purism, the birth of the usage guide, the issue of prescriptivism in a major dictionary like the … Continue reading →

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