Prescriptivisim and Descriptivism

Prescriptivism. This is the approach to language that favours using the 'correct' traditional use of language. Prescriptivist's do not like to break these certain rules.

Descriptivism. This is the approach to the english language in the opposite way to prescriptivism. Descriptivism tend to break the traditional rules of the english language and tend to not follow the traditional structure of the english language.


Prescriptivism was first found in the 18th century. They went about their work to try and standardise the language, and they later put their work into 'books of grammar'. Their aims of this was to be able to teach young children how to learn the language in the 'correct' way through their prescriptivist theory. Their aims were to create a standardised language, to try and teach and construct a way in which society should percieve language correctly.

Prescriptivism believes that it is the technically correct, this being gramatically and linguistically. Which in contrast to descriptivism is very different.

Descriptivism is based upon the way language is actually spoken, rather than the way it is percieved.