The Art of Grammar War

by Aoede
(Alexandria, Virginia, USA)

As a would-be linguist, I am fully aware that scientifically speaking, there is really no such thing as a "correct" grammar, especially in a language like English, which is not regulated by academies like Spanish and French are.

Indeed, grammar is merely any set of of consistent rules regulating the semantic content of language as related to the order and placement of its components.

However, as an educated person and grammarian, there are also times when errors are so glaring as to utterly exasperate me -- such as in instances of complete misspelling, or complete failure to use punctuation correctly. In these two instances, however, I do not stew over my exasperation long -- it would indeed be rather silly to get worked up over such minor affairs.

Instead, I merely take out the permanent marker or pen that I always carry around in my pocket, and make a succinct correction. Sometimes no one notices, which I take as a proof of having successfully mimicked the font. Other times, there is approbation or amusement -- and I take these as credits as well.

Far better to act and reap the rewards of action, I think, than to see an error and stand around grumbling uselessly about the state of grammar in modern times.