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]