Grammar is becoming flexible and fluid!

Do you always speak or write grammatically correct English? How would you define “grammatically correct or incorrect”? Does English grammar take the permanently fixed form? Just as we assume based on the fact that languages are fluid, English grammar has been evolving over the years. Let’s go over some of those changes in English grammar from their old prescriptive versions into the modern descriptive ones that are commonly used by native English speakers today.

 

Prescriptive/Conventional   Grammar	Modern Descriptive Grammar
1.  “his or her”   e.g., Each person is supposed to raise his or her hands.	Use gender-free “their” to sound more respectful and inclusive   e.g., Each person is supposed to raise their hands.
2.  “Indians” to refer to Native Americans   e.g., He visited the sections of Indians’ at the museum of Natural History.	Use “Native Americans” or the tribe’s name such as “Apaches”   e.g., He visited the sections of Native Americans’ at the museum of Natural History.
3.  Never start a sentence with coordinating conjunctions like “and,” “but,” “or”.	You can use a sentence with a coordinating conjunction for the purpose of offering a ‘soft’ opening for sentences.   e.g., She made a big mistake at work. But luckily, she got away with it in the end.
4.  Never end your sentences with prepositions (“at,” “for,” “by,” “of,” “on,” “in,” “after,” “with,” etc.)   e.g., Is good grammar something for which you are known?   Where are you?	You can end your sentences with prepositions.   e.g., Is good grammar what you are known for?   Where are you at?
5.  Use ‘each other’ between the two parties & ‘one another’ among more than two           e.g., When we are      married, and have more occasion to know each other.”	Use ‘each other’ and ‘one another’ interchangeably   e.g., Sixteen ministers meet weekly at each other’s houses.
6.  “None” should only be used with a plural verb.       e.g, “None” of them are mine.	“None”  is used with a singular verb.   e.g., None of them is mine.
7.  Never split an infinitive. An infinitive is a sentence that contains a “to” and a verb (e.g., to run, to criticize, to agree, etc)   e.g., Most students in that AP course were determined to prepare vigorously for the finals.	You can split an infinitive.   e.g., The kid was told to slowly speak.