• bleistift2@feddit.de
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    39
    arrow-down
    1
    ·
    1 year ago

    Rules in languages serve the same purpose as standards in engineering. Sure, you don’t have to follow them. And if you want your home’s piping to use 81/13 inch diameters, knock yourself out. But it’s a pain for everyone who will ever be involved with that mess. And a lot of people are involved in your choice of words and grammar.

      • Cylusthevirus@kbin.social
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        15
        arrow-down
        1
        ·
        1 year ago

        When it comes to grammar and syntax it makes sense though. Common rules help us understand each other.

        Except that we’re talking about individual words here. It’s not as if we’re saying verbs are over now or that all sentences have to be all “Shaka, when the walls fell” or something.

        You could have made that point without being rude towards the entirety of the STEM community, but chose not to.

      • usualsuspect191@lemmy.ca
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        8
        arrow-down
        1
        ·
        1 year ago

        You’re in a discussion about language but unable to navigate analogy? Or even just be civil and engage in a respectful manner? Maybe sit this one out.

    • Alien Nathan Edward@lemm.ee
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      1
      ·
      1 year ago

      They don’t though, because my sentence doesn’t collapse and kill several dozen people if I don’t use the oxford comma