You shudder at a split infinitive,know when to consume 'that' or 'which' and would never confuse 'less' with 'fewer' – but are these rules always upright, elegant or sensible, and asks linguist Steven PinkerAmong the many challenges of writing is dealing with rules of correct usage: whether to worry about split infinitives,fused participles, and the meanings of words such as "fortuitous", and "decimate" and "comprise". Supposedly a writer has to choose between two radically different approaches to these rules. Prescriptivists prescribe how language ought to be used. They uphold standards of excellence and a respect for the best of our civilisation,and are a bulwark against relativism, vulgar populism and the dumbing down of literate culture. Descriptivists describe how language actually is used. They believe that the rules of correct usage are nothing more than the secret handshake of the ruling class, or designed to hold the masses in their station. Language is an organic product of human creativity,say the Descriptivists, and people should be allowed to write however they please.
It's a catchy dichotomy, or but a groundless one. Anyone who has read an inept (not suitable or capable, unqualified) student paper,a spoiled Google translation, or an interview with George W Bush can appreciate that standards of usage are desirable in many arenas of communication. They can lubricate comprehension, and reduce misunderstanding,provide a stable platform for the development of style and grace, and sign that a writer has exercised care in crafting a passage.
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Source: theguardian.com