# Steven Pinker on descriptivism vs. prescriptivism

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steven-pinker-on-descriptivism-vs-prescriptivism/623942>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [June 3, 2012, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steven-pinker-on-descriptivism-vs-prescriptivism/623942 "2012-06-03T15:47:20Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\
**Post date:** [June 3, 2012, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steven-pinker-on-descriptivism-vs-prescriptivism/623942/1 "2012-06-03T15:47:20Z")

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For those who, like the utterly bewildered author of a recent _New Yorker_ writer, think prescriptivists are uptight assholes – the [explanation of the difference](http://slate.me/JEBEBh)by one of the best writers on language around, Steven Pinker.

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**Author:** ![Chessic\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7c8e57/32.png) [@Chessic\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chessic_Sense)\
**Post date:** [June 3, 2012, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steven-pinker-on-descriptivism-vs-prescriptivism/623942/2 "2012-06-03T15:54:39Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> everyone drives on the left, and there is nothing sinister, gauche, or socialist about their choice

Hah! A triple pun…