In Pirsig's Zen and The Art of Motorcycle Maintenance he discusses mastery of writing and language as beyond that of robotic regurgitation of language rules. In

In Pirsig's Zen and The Art of Motorcycle Maintenance he discusses mastery of writing and language as beyond that of robotic regurgitation of language rules. In fact, most languages have many exceptions and inconsistencies among their rules, and being a good writer is not defined by them, and even can invove stretching or breaking them. I also have taught English to novice speakers and sometimes am struck by such questions they receive, sometimes being all of: obtuse, irrelevant and pedantic at the same time. But that is their primary objective: to sell tests and teaching materials to their tests, not direct competency.