As a linguist, the inaccurate use of the word 'grammar' to refer to all language usage is actually a much bigger pet peeve for me than any kind of language usage. ;)
Other than that, while I do have my language-related pet peeves, I try to keep them to myself because it's kind of annoying to be That Person. (And none of them have to do with actual grammar anyway.)
It depends on what you mean! :) Here's something I wrote up about this elsewhere:
'Grammar' is not just another word for 'language use'. 'Grammar' is essentially a layman's shorthand for two parts of language: what linguists call 'morphology' (the internal structure of words, often having to do with things like prefixes and suffixes) and 'syntax' (the internal structure of sentences, usually having to do with word order).
All languages have grammar, whether they happen to possess a writing system or not. This means that if the part of language you're talking about is limited exclusively to the writing system, it cannot and will not ever be a part of that language's grammar.
Therefore...if you mean spelling, say 'spelling'. If you mean punctuation, say 'punctuation'. If you mean either morphology or syntax, say 'grammar'.
I'd also add that if you mean all of the above, "language use" should do nicely! Thanks for asking. :)
Well, I mean, I also meant grammar... I, for example, sometimes, out of laziness, stop using correct grammar in texting (though I correct it very soon after out of shame).
Though I really meant everything, so I guess grammar isn't the word to use here. :)
If you dangle a participle in front of me, I will cut a bitch. 😋
Nice information, @jae. It had me scrambling for definitions. Thanks for sharing.
The important part for me is that we are communicating. As long as I understand my companion's writing, I can forgive a lack of punctuation or a few typos.
Aw, I tried to write it so that the complicated words were explained! Can you suggest edits to make the parts clearer that you needed to scramble for definitions for?
I did the scrambling before your longer post and I was fact checking more than anything. You did a marvelous and very accurate job of explaining it, you cheeky linguist. Don't change a thing.
I ask because this is a text I use often with non-linguists, so I want it to be clear! I have debated whether 'prefix' and 'suffix' are too jargony, though, so I wondered if that was the issue. (I haven't been able to think of a way of providing examples of what I mean without using those words, but I'm sure there is one.)
I might not be the best person to ask. My vocabulary is above average and I was tasked with diagramming complex sentences so often in school that I still sometimes see sentences broken down and mapped. :)
Prefix and suffix seem like words we learn fairly young though, no?
My personal rule of thumb is "Did your message successfully make it?" If yes, then we're fine. I far prefer written language to spoken language. There is way less noise when it's written out. I wish technical support reps for companies like Cisco were just chat based. Many times their English is incomprehensible.
As a linguist, the inaccurate use of the word 'grammar' to refer to all language usage is actually a much bigger pet peeve for me than any kind of language usage. ;)
Other than that, while I do have my language-related pet peeves, I try to keep them to myself because it's kind of annoying to be That Person. (And none of them have to do with actual grammar anyway.)
Haha, sorry about that. I'm a bit dumb when it comes to that :P How would you call it instead?
It depends on what you mean! :) Here's something I wrote up about this elsewhere:
I'd also add that if you mean all of the above, "language use" should do nicely! Thanks for asking. :)
Quick, @Temmie, blow jae's mind by saying, "Oh, yes, I meant grammar."
AHAHAHA. That would serve me right! ;)
Well, I mean, I also meant grammar... I, for example, sometimes, out of laziness, stop using correct grammar in texting (though I correct it very soon after out of shame).
Though I really meant everything, so I guess grammar isn't the word to use here. :)
Oh, I mean all of the above (though grammar definitely was part of it)! Thanks, I'll correct it right now to language use.
If you dangle a participle in front of me, I will cut a bitch. 😋
Nice information, @jae. It had me scrambling for definitions. Thanks for sharing.
The important part for me is that we are communicating. As long as I understand my companion's writing, I can forgive a lack of punctuation or a few typos.
Yeah, then 'language use' is what you mean. That encompasses grammar, spelling and punctuation (plus other stuff)! :)
Aw, I tried to write it so that the complicated words were explained! Can you suggest edits to make the parts clearer that you needed to scramble for definitions for?
I did the scrambling before your longer post and I was fact checking more than anything. You did a marvelous and very accurate job of explaining it, you cheeky linguist. Don't change a thing.
smooch
I ask because this is a text I use often with non-linguists, so I want it to be clear! I have debated whether 'prefix' and 'suffix' are too jargony, though, so I wondered if that was the issue. (I haven't been able to think of a way of providing examples of what I mean without using those words, but I'm sure there is one.)
I might not be the best person to ask. My vocabulary is above average and I was tasked with diagramming complex sentences so often in school that I still sometimes see sentences broken down and mapped. :)
Prefix and suffix seem like words we learn fairly young though, no?
I hope so! :) Thanks anyway.
The closer you are to formal language use when you text me, the easier it is for me to understand you and respond.
the moar u stray frm formal language use, the moar i struggle 2 read ur message and the less i feel like talking or smth.
I guess I care. I like for things to be easy. They don't have to be perfect, though.
My personal rule of thumb is "Did your message successfully make it?" If yes, then we're fine. I far prefer written language to spoken language. There is way less noise when it's written out. I wish technical support reps for companies like Cisco were just chat based. Many times their English is incomprehensible.
I use autocorrect and write with the words I would use in real life
Absolutely.