Why It's OK to Have Bad Spelling and Grammar

Grammatical errors and orthographic mishaps are often played for laughs, but this subtle sanctioning by the sticklerocracy can have real social consequences too.Attention to prescriptive spelling and grammar rules is insidious and harmful. As Jessica Flanigan argues in Why It’s OK to Have Bad Spelling and Grammar, grammarianism often maintains hierarchies, entrenches the advantages of privileged groups, and imposes arbitrary barriers to knowledge production and innovation.For example, the stigmatization of bad spelling and grammar disadvantages linguistic minorities, non-native speakers, and people with disabilities.Spelling and grammar norms are also frequently arbitrary and unnecessary.The petty grammandos among us, who cling to pedantic linguistic conventions, are standing in the way of innovative forms of communication and efficient speech, such as the emoji ?.For these reasons, Flanigan argues that bad spelling and grammar are OK.It’s time to break free from the tyranny of the gra