- Bad spelling and grammar is a major turn-off.
- Bad spelling and grammar are a major turn-off.
- Bad spelling and grammar are major turn-offs.
Which of the sentences above is correct?
Add a comment
|
1 Answer
It depends on whether you take a descriptive or prescriptive view of grammar. A descriptive grammarian would likely say all three are acceptable because you will hear all three.
A prescriptive grammarian like me says that # 2 is bad grammar. There is no question that # 3 is perfectly grammatical: subject, verb, and copula are all plural. The one that raises a grammatical question is # 1.
At least in U.S. English, certain phrases such as bacon and eggs are treated in some contexts as a singular concept despite the plural form. Someone may say Bacon and eggs is my favorite breakfast meaning that the combination of bacon and eggs is what I like best for breakfast. In that example, it is the combination of foods that is being referenced rather than the individual components. Obviously, bad spelling and grammar can also be used as a combined concept because they do, in empirical fact, often appear together. So # 1 is good grammar.
Nevertheless, I prefer # 3 because I am not sure that bad spelling and grammar is as generally recognized as a single thing as is bacon and eggs.
-
It's incorrect to say that descriptive grammarians deem something grammatical because "you will hear it". You can hear children or English learners say, for example, I goed home. yet I don't think any serious expert would deem that grammatical. A good explanation of prescriptivism vs descriptivism can be found in Chapter 1 of The Cambridge Grammar of the English Language, available here: cambridge.org/features/linguistics/cgel/sample.htm Your designation of #2 as bad merely reflects your personal taste. Commented Jul 23, 2018 at 1:53
-
According to your reasoning, They are a couple is "bad grammar". Would you agree? Commented Jul 23, 2018 at 1:57