Excuse me if I don't agree that someone's choice of college should determine whether their accusations of elitism have legitimacy.

There certainly is enough evidence of grammar-nazi misanthropy online to warrant comment, and if Gabriel doesn't go about it the right way then I'm sure there are better criticisms to levy against his tactic than "hey, Ivy Leaguer! Who are you to be affronted by elitism? You pampered eggheads live and breathe this stuff!"

(I'm not going to tell you where I went to school, so you'll have to find some other reason to dismiss my comment.)

Also, what's with all the backhanded adoration for Language Log? It's fascinating, well-written stuff! (You can tell I'm a fan by my use of "their," above.)

Ah, the wonders of the blanket of anonymity. To attack whole-heartedly from behind a cowardly mask. I, Ben, tend to agree that there is a certain air of elitism associated and even relished within Ivy League schools or similar institutions. It's part of their way.

What I also agree with is the judgment that using a Facebook group as a citation for an essay is far outside the realm of adding any sort of legitimacy to an essay, especially one meant to bring light to a particular sense of entitlement that we copy-editors seem to have merely for the desire to uphold a bit of quality within print media. How dare we stand up for such a thing!

Language Log is a fascinating read, but sometimes there's a sense of "I art better than thou" that comes off in the writing of it because descriptivism is better than prescriptivism. Both are equally valuable and both are equally burdensome at the same time. Yet both of them need to be recognized and considered in the context of the piece being written.

I'm a brand new reader. Because you mentioned your blogroll in this post, I gave it a look just now. I'm assuming someone has already mentioned to you that you've misspelled "double-tongued" in the blogroll?

Anyway, love your site!

Spelling fixed. Thanks for pointing out the error.

And, uh, Ben, if you want to conceal your university -- not that I would think any the less of you -- you might want to use something other than an "edu" e-mail.

Mr. McIntyre,

You cannot imagine my surprise upon hearing from a friend tonight that my column had been mentioned by someone at the Sun.

I have nothing against copy editors; in fact, I wish mine had picked up on the typographical error in my column. And as you mentioned, I am particularly amused at the antics of the Facebook group (founded, incidentally, by a high school classmate of mine). It was to this sort of prescriptivist that my column was directed. JB Dryden mentions that "using a Facebook group as a citation for an essay is far outside the realm of adding any sort of legitimacy," to which I respond, then why on earth would the National Grammar Day website mention the group?

In any case, I had better be more careful in the future about how I fill my 650-800 words. I'll know there are sharp eyes on the lookout.

Gabriel

What I can't understand is how anyone can see any sort of elitism or snobbery in advocating proper usage of language.

Is it snobbery for a mechanic to tell you that your headlight isn't working?

Is it snobbery for a doctor to tell you that the cause of your pain is indeed that sharp wooden stake protruding from your thigh?

To me, it sounds like the people complaining about elitism once had an encounter in which they were sharply reprimanded for incorrect usage and have harbored deep resentment through to the day they were finally able to put keystroke to blog and let it all out.

Oh, so NOW he says he's particularly amused!

He who has no sense of humor probably hasn't much sense at all.

yikes, it's getting nasty in here (disclaimer: I attended an Ivy League university)

John,

Hmm. In my defense, more than one institution of higher learning goes by that name. But yes, consider my face red (but not crimson!--or Brown).

I admit that charges of elitism are an annoying but not particularly weighty cross to bear.

In this regard they are much like the charges of pedantry and misanthropy borne by copy-editors everywhere.

So howzabout a deal--we both acknowledge that some people will always take issue with your education and/or profession, no matter how reasonable a person you know yourself to be.

(JB--My cowardly mask notwithstanding, I hope my comment was not regarded as a whole-hearted attack. I do recognize that John's critique here, as with many of his posts, is a light-hearted one. This blog would not be so enjoyable otherwise. Honestly, National Grammar Day is fine by me, as long as no one's ranting.

And of course I agree with the tack--followed by all level-headed editors and even some Language Log posters--that there is a middle ground to be found between hard-nosed prescriptivism and lackadaisical descriptivism.)

It's nice to see that Mr. Michael has already seen what I was about to point out -- that indeed, sharp eyes are on the lookout, and that the obligatory errors in his article are likely to be pointed out, too. ;)

"Authorities."

There are no "authorities" in language. Just people who are more bullying about their ideas and opinions than others.

A divinity school graduate student named Gabriel Michael? That just seems a little too angelic of a coincidence.

So, Jim, is that pronunciamento of yours authoritative?

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