Gourt > Arts > Writers Resources > Style Guides > Grammar (2)
Grammar is the study of rules governing the use of language. The set of rules governing a particular language is also called the grammar of the language; thus, each language can be said to have its own distinct grammar. Grammar is part of the general study of language called linguistics.
The subfields of contemporary grammar are phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, and pragmatics. Traditional grammars include only morphology and syntax.
Types of grammar
- A prescriptive grammar presents authoritative norms for a particular language, and tends to deprecate non-standard constructions. Traditional grammars are typically prescriptive. Prescriptive grammars are usually based on the prestige dialects of a speech community, and often specifically condemn certain constructions which are common only among lower socioeconomic groups, such as the use of "ain't" and double negatives in English. Though prescriptive grammars remain common in pedagogy and foreign language teaching, they have fallen out of favor in modern academic linguistics, as they describe only a subset of actual language usage.
- A descriptive grammar attempts to describe actual usage, avoiding prescriptive judgments. Descriptive grammars are bound to a particular speech community, and attempt to provide rules for any utterance considered grammatically correct within that community. For example, in many dialects of English, the use of double negatives is very common, though ungrammatical from the point of view of a prescriptive English grammar. A descriptive grammar of a speech community where "I didn't do nothing" is acceptable will treat that sentence as grammatical, and provide rules that account for it. A prescriptive grammar of formal English would rather provide rules for "I didn't do anything."
- Traditional grammar is the collection of ideas about grammar that Western societies have received from Greek and Roman sources. Prescriptive grammar is usually formulated in terms of the descriptive concepts inherited from traditional grammar. Modern descriptive grammar aims to correct the errors of traditional grammar, and generalize them, so as to avoid shoehorning all languages to the model of Latin. Nearly all materials used in teaching language, however, are still based on traditional grammar.
- A formal grammar is a precisely defined grammar, typically used for computer programming languages.
- A generative grammar is a formal grammar that can in some sense "generate" the well-formed expressions of a natural language. An entire branch of linguistic theory is based on generative grammars. Generative grammars were popularized by Noam Chomsky. Generative grammar may include Transformational grammar, which is a broad term mostly describing natural language grammars which have been developed in a Chomskian tradition. Transformational grammar is usually synonymous with the slightly more specific transformational-generative grammar (TGG).
English :: Language Arts
Grammar and Vocabulary :: Student Resources
Editing and Proofreading :: Writing and Editing
My grammar is bad.... but i love writing in english. :D I don't know why... i just think it's a beautiful (& easy) language :D <3
GlossyStarSarah (I AM...Sarah â¼) Wed, 16 Dec 2009 13:10:00 -0000
My grammar is bad.... but i love writing in english. :D I don't know why... i just think it's a beautiful (& easy) language :D <3
Bad bad grammar here *embarrased* RT @vanxiaoyi: My eyes blurry as hell. Still refusing to use glasses. I'm super sleepy
vanxiaoyi (vanda zhang :)) Wed, 16 Dec 2009 13:09:54 -0000
Bad bad grammar here *embarrased* RT @vanxiaoyi: My eyes blurry as hell. Still refusing to use glasses. I'm super sleepy
@REjus_M @tiffanyandc0_85 LOL u kno the grammar police will get you!
NIKKI0J3 (NIKKI0J3) Wed, 16 Dec 2009 13:09:07 -0000
@REjus_M @tiffanyandc0_85 LOL u kno the grammar police will get you!
@anelrivers LMAO! That's funny, but from what I remember from his blog, his grammar is not THAT bad. :)
IMnet (Invisible Movement) Wed, 16 Dec 2009 13:08:14 -0000
@anelrivers LMAO! That's funny, but from what I remember from his blog, his grammar is not THAT bad. :)
. English Grammar: Noun-Article Agreement http://bit.ly/81rEsL
whizkids (Todd Doyle) Wed, 16 Dec 2009 13:06:00 -0000
. English Grammar: Noun-Article Agreement http://bit.ly/81rEsL
somebody needs to send the ppl writing for geo.tv on a grammar course. http://www.geo.tv/12-16-2009/54871.htm
o_tariq (Omer Tariq) Wed, 16 Dec 2009 13:05:29 -0000
somebody needs to send the ppl writing for geo.tv on a grammar course. http://www.geo.tv/12-16-2009/54871.htm
English Grammar and Usage Tips - The site offers a new tip about English grammar and usage every two weeks. Currently the archive contains thirty-four tips. People can subscribe to have the tips sent to their e-mail address free of charge.
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All You Need to Know About Commas - This site will give you information, definition, and rules about commas. Also has links to other sites for further information.
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Chicago Manual of Style FAQ - FAQ site designed to help CMS users eliminate ambiguities or misunderstandings found in the book itself.
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Einfoweb.com - Grammar - The seven parts of speech: nouns, pronouns, adjectives, verbs, adverbs, interjections, conjuctions, and prepositions.
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English 126 HyperTextBook - Modern English Grammar from the Daniel Kies and the College of DuPage.
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Gallaudet Writer's Handbook - This site is an online version of the grammar and style handbook that was designed specifically to improve the writing skills of deaf and hard of hearing college students.
Glossary of English Grammar Terms - A fully cross-referenced dictionary of gramatical terms of English language containing more than 250 English grammar entries.
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Grammar Help Page - Grammar help written by Ruth and her students and gleaned and linked from a variety of Web sites around the world.
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How to Write Well: Using the Apostrophe - Tutorial on the use of apostrophes for omission and possession.
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Online Writing Resources - Interactive lessons in grammar, mechanics and punctuation using PowerPoint, Word, and HTML.
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Plain Words - A guide to the use of English by Sir Ernest Gowers.
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Serendipity: Common Errors - An examination of common errors that are becoming generally accepted as correct. A mini-course in English usage.
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The English Language - A site with thoughts on why using sound English is important and on just what sound English is.
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The Grammar Guru - Web site of syndicated columnist and author of The Grammatically Correct Handbook. Read columns, book chapters, find out how to order the book.
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What's the Plural of `Virus'? - A thorough investigation.
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