The conflicting forms of English grammarCompetition between the ‘Yankees’ and ‘Limeys’ (derogatory terms) spanning decades is, to a larger extent, responsible for the American and British versions of the English language. In British English, pants mean underwear (piece of clothing worn below the waist under trousers, petticoat, dress or skirt), yet in American English, pants could simply mean trousers. Where British English sticks to specific rules, and therefore adheres to ‘prescriptive grammar’, American English is more relaxed and adheres to ‘descriptive grammar’. In Kenya today, most people have a preference for descriptive English grammar over the prescriptive for being non-restrictive. Prescriptive grammar would flag the American version for flaunting the rules of grammar.

Source: Standard Digital April 13, 2020 05:48 UTC