Meaning & use
prescriptivism
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Meanings
noununcountabletechnical
The belief or practice of telling people which language forms are correct and which should be avoided.
Grammar: Uncountable, so it takes a singular verb and no plural: prescriptivism is common in schools.
Patterns
- prescriptivism in something
- a form of prescriptivism
- prescriptivism about something
Her book examines prescriptivism in nineteenth-century schools, where teachers corrected every regional form.
Some linguists see prescriptivism as a way of keeping the speech of powerful groups in charge.
Prescriptivism about grammar is easy to spot when a style guide bans a common construction.
noununcountabledisapproving
The habit of giving firm rules about how something should be done, especially in language or art.
Grammar: Used more broadly and often disapprovingly; no plural form.
Patterns
- prescriptivism about something
- cultural prescriptivism
Critics complained that the new curriculum was full of prescriptivism about the right way to write.
His prescriptivism about cooking left no room for anyone else's family recipes.
Common combinations
- linguistic prescriptivism
- Linguistic prescriptivism often focuses on small points such as split infinitives.
- a tradition of prescriptivism
- The country has a long tradition of prescriptivism in its schools.
- accused of prescriptivism
- The columnist was accused of prescriptivism after listing ten banned words.
- prescriptivism versus descriptivism
- In class we discussed prescriptivism versus descriptivism in dictionary making.
- a form of prescriptivism
- Requiring a single accent in broadcasting is a form of prescriptivism.
Synonyms and how they differ
- dogmatism
- Dogmatism is broader and means refusing to accept other views, while prescriptivism specifically concerns laying down rules for correct usage.
- purism
- Purism suggests keeping a language free of outside or new elements, whereas prescriptivism is about declaring which forms are correct.
Opposites
Word family
- prescriptive adjective
- Saying how language or behavior should be, rather than describing how it is.
- prescriptivist noun
- A person who supports or practices prescriptivism.
- prescriptively adverb
- In a way that lays down rules about correct use.
- prescribe verb
- To state officially what should be done or used.
Commonly confused: prescriptivism or proscriptivism? prescriptivism or descriptivism?
prescriptivism vs proscriptivism
Proscriptivism (rare) is about forbidding things, while prescriptivism is about setting out what is correct or required.
prescriptivism vs descriptivism
Descriptivism studies how people actually use language without judging it; prescriptivism judges and recommends forms.
Practice
Which sentence uses "prescriptivism" correctly?
Choose one answer.
Prescriptivism is an uncountable noun meaning the practice of laying down rules about correct language, so option A fits. Option B confuses it with "prescription," option C wrongly treats it as a countable object, and option D confuses it with "prescription" or noise.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “prescriptivism”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.