Linguistics

The grammar of persuasion can be subtle – but pro-lockdown tweeters tended to be more direct and less conciliatory than those they opposed.

The schools inspectorate’s policies about language are harmful to the most marginalised members of society.

Our research found that focused grammar teaching didn’t improve children’s writing.

A better understanding of language and its neuroscientific basis would help us handle linguistic issues throughout our lives.

It isn’t a matter of choosing between teaching grammar or teaching students to use their imagination in their writing. In fact, it makes sense to show them how grammar can enhance their creativity.

A young reader asks: How are languages formed?

Our children should no longer be taught formulaic writing. Writing education should encompass skills that go beyond the capacities of artificial intelligence.

Grammar isn't a way to bully people for making mistakes, says a longtime English instructor. It is a way to understand how our language operates, in all its many written and spoken varieties.

For decades, forensic linguists have helped crack cases involving false author attribution, masked voices, false confessions in criminal cases and copyright disputes.

Grammatical metaphor is different to what we understand to be "metaphor". It's a way of converting words and shortening clauses, so more information can be packed into fewer characters.

Hashtags are infiltrating language well beyond their original use on Twitter — and linguists are struggling to define their role.

In languages from Central Asia to the Amazon and New Guinea, stringing multiple ideas together is something children learn at an early age.

Grammar is a set of tools to make meaning rather than a set of rules to follow. The difference is in how we teach it.

A new book, which weaves fiction into the origin story of the Oxford English Dictionary, was declared a hit even before its release. Readers will judge whether it lives up to the hype.

Have you been pulled up by a "grammar Nazi"? Now you can correct them back.

The conventions used in texting and tweeting are fundamentally altering how people communicate, but many language apps still rely on old-school English-language grammar.

Philip Pullman's call for a boycott against the new 50p coin is just the latest Oxford comma controvery.

'Greengrocer's' may be in mourning, but the rest of us can sigh with relief.

Pedants should reach for their red pens now.

The word 'like' has a grammar, and by looking at it, we can learn a lot about what 'like' means and what it contributes to someone’s speech.

When reporting violence, grammar matters: the use of voice is key to apportioning blame and, importantly, an accurate depiction of what has taken place.

Organisational twaddle is everywhere. It's time to climb the 'strategic staircase' and incentivise our corporate leaders to abandon it.

Spoken language evolves differently and faster than written language, and there are good reasons why this is the case.

Software tools for South Africa’s Nguni languages may assist with redress and effective communication.

Research suggests that speakers of "present-tensed" languages such as German and Finnish - in which the future can be describe in the present tense - are more likely to support stronger climate policies.

Do you wince at a mispronounced 'Moet'? Do you cringe at unintentional portmanteau words, like 'misunderestimated' or 'insinuendo'? You are not alone.

Evolutionary biologists ask very similar questions about species to those asked by linguists about languages.

New research gives weight to Noam Chomsky's idea of a universal language ability.

In a language as idiosyncratic as English, linguistic pedantry is futile and misguided.

Grammar pedantry recently contributed to the downfall of World Bank chief economist Paul Romer. But 'grammonds' are people to be celebrated not vilified.