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The 'language is evolving' and 'language is defined by usage' arguments go both ways. When something was both not historically incorrect, and not considered in
by ajanuary 13y ago
The 'language is evolving' and 'language is defined by usage' arguments go both ways.
When something was both not historically incorrect, and not considered incorrect by many current people, the arguments people make about it being wrong starts to crumble slightly.
- hluska 13y agoIt's kind of like A/B testing. A blue button isn't wrong, but a green button coverts better. Language is the same. If your goal is to communicate, the most easily understood choice is best. Some grammatical quirks do nothing to hinder comprehension and don't need to be pointed out (ie - less/fewer). Others are far more toxic.
- MaysonL 13y agoHowever, grammatical quirks which don't hinder comprehension still act as signals of status. Using "less" where "fewer" is more correct, or vice versa, will definitely hinder acceptnce of the message by many, regardless of its comprehensibility.