Proscriptive vs. Prescriptive: Understanding the Nuances of Language Rules
Defining Prescriptive Rules What are prescriptive rules? Prescriptive rules form the bedrock of many people’s understanding of “correct” language. They lay out specific directives about how language *should* be used. Think of them as a set of guidelines, a manual, or a style sheet for speaking and writing. They prescribe, or tell you, how to … Read more