Regarding the touchstone of grammar

[branchandroot]

The Stages of Grammar:

1. Innocence. "Grammar? What's that? I'm just tryin to write, here, man."

2. Knowledge of Good and Evil. "This is a noun. This is a verb. This is a comma. This is a comma splice... oh, crap."

3. Dogmatism. "The rules say it is wrong to start a sentence with a preposition, for ever and ever amen."

4. Evangelism. "I know all the rules, and when I see an error I must point it out!"

5. (If a grammarian soul progresses past Evangelism, several variations may manifest in the penultimate stage.)

--A. Relativism. "Correct grammar depends on context, such as dialogue versus instruction."

--B. Apostasy. "Who needs grammar? It's all arbitrary! There is no truth!"

--C. Enthusiasm. "We shall remake grammar entirely, cleaving only to the original linguistic structures of English! Down with the corrupt and luxurious dictates of the Latinists!"

6. Ethical Grammar. "Language is a living and fluid thing. The need for consistent written structures to aid comprehension must be balanced with the changing ways language users shape the language by their use."

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