Thread by @Joannechocolat

Here's a little thread about GRAMMAR. Indulge me for a minute: it's important.

I see a lot of people on here dismissing correct grammar as pedantic, or talking about "grammar Nazis", as if the freedom to misrepresent the language was somehow a human right. The irony is that *actual Nazis* are very good at using grammar for their own ends. Here's why.

Grammar is basically a security measure. It's a way to check that the language we use does what we intend it to: that is, means delivering a clear message to another person, without error or confusion.

Take away the security measure, and there's an added likelihood that your message will get lost, misunderstood, or even twisted to mean the opposite of what you wanted to say.

On the other hand, authoritarian regimes have a history of doing just that: of using the language to confuse and brainwash people into adopting their ideas without even realizing it's happening.

Because, for an authoritarian regime, controlling the language is the best way to control the minds of the population.

Most of the time, we don't even notice it's happening. I mean, what's the difference between "Woman attacked by man" and "Man attacks woman?" They mean the same thing, right?

And yes, they do, but the way we process the meaning is different. In the first case, ("Woman attacked by man"), it's much easier to misread, or misunderstand. Someone in a hurry might even come away with the idea that the woman was the attacker.

And yes, it happens all the time. Language isn't just a tool, it's a weapon. Good knowledge of grammar keeps it sharp, and prevents other people from using it against us.

We're all vulnerable to the mind-controlling power of words and slogans. Advertising proves that. Politics, too. The words on that bus were deliberate. So is the language they're using now.

So think about the language you use. Ask yourself why you're using it. Ask yourself the same thing about the people you pay attention to - on TV, in the newspapers, online. Whose thoughts are you really thinking? Your own, or the ones they gave you?