Grammar Nazi

Grammar Nazi iconography, an adaptation of symbolism used by the Nazi party.

Grammar Nazi (also known as Grammar Pedant, or Spelling Nazi/Pedant) is an informal, pejorative term used to describe someone who regularly corrects or criticizes minor errors in spelling, grammar, and punctuation in speech and writing.[1] The term was coined in the 1990s on online discussion forums.[2] While some corrections made by individuals labeled as "Grammar Nazis" are intended to be humorous, they can also be seen as perpetuating unnecessarily strict standards of language use. Discussions about such corrections often intersect with broader considerations of literacy privilege and societal norms in communication.[3][4]

The use of "Nazi" in this context is controversial. Critics argue that the term trivializes the historical atrocities associated with Nazism.[5][6]

  1. ^ "Why You Don't Want To Call Yourself A "Grammar Nazi"". Dictionary.com. 2020-08-03. Retrieved 2024-05-26.
  2. ^ sheila_admin (2012-07-29). "Grammar Nazi • ICAL TEFL". ICAL TEFL. Retrieved 2025-01-26.
  3. ^ Švelch, Jaroslav; Sherman, Tamah (July 2018). ""I see your garbage": Participatory practices and literacy privilege on "Grammar Nazi" Facebook pages in different sociolinguistic contexts". New Media & Society. 20 (7): 2391–2410. doi:10.1177/1461444817719087 – via SageJournals.
  4. ^ Masnick, Mike (Oct 29, 2009). "Grammar Nazis: Useful Language Experts, Or Elitist Snobs?". Techdirt. Retrieved Jan 27, 2025.
  5. ^ Bates, Andrea (2015-04-07). "Why We Need to Stop Using the Term 'Grammar Nazi'". Kveller. Retrieved 2024-05-26.
  6. ^ YUNiversity, The (2016-03-04). "Don't Be a Grammar Nazi!". I Love Charts. Retrieved 2024-05-26.

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