Descriptivists

[Steven D]

If you say your'e a descriptivist, do you use all the language that you could describe? I'd say probably not. However, where do you draw the line?


Or do you say you're a descriptivist while in reality you're careful to adhere to all formal usage rules?

[Steven D]

Does adhering to all the "formal rules of usage" come naturally to anyone? I tend to doubt it.

Originally Posted by X Mode

Does adhering to all the "formal rules of usage" come naturally to anyone? I tend to doubt it.

I doubt it, and what would be the point in doing so? There's a whole world of register out there. One should not limit oneself to only the formal rules.