Prescriptivism
The approach to language that prescribes how language should be used, establishing rules and standards. Prescriptivism emphasises correctness.
Real World
Lynne Truss's bestselling book 'Eats, Shoots and Leaves' (2003) campaigned for strict punctuation rules, selling over three million copies and showing how prescriptivist attitudes remain popular with the public.
Exam Focus
Name a prescriptivist commentator or publication and link their stance to a specific 'rule' — avoid vague claims about 'right and wrong'.
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