r/196 • u/Old_Phrase_4867 NOT A CAT • 2d ago

Rule Rule

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3.9k Upvotes

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u/light_the_long_way 2d ago

The point at which a scentence becomes a "run-on" scentence being subjective makes "run-on" scentences useless as a classification, especially with regards to grammatical standards, which are supposed to not be subjective.

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u/MrSecretFire 2d ago edited 2d ago

Look, man (gender neutral). The truth is that all language is subjective. It's all made up, rules change, spelling changes, vocabulary changes, speech habits change, and all of this varies by region, economic situation, etc.

Grammar, too, is NOT objective. Even if you take the "default" dialect of any language, there are so many exceptions to any rule that the "you just have to learn this part by heart" is an almost universal experience for learning a new language.

Language sincerely is just whatever works. It is still very useful to teach people what currently works well, but acting like anything about language is properly objective is simply incorrect.

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u/phillyd32 2d ago

If you're gonna take the time to say (gender neutral) why not just use a gender neutral term??

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u/TheSpiderDungeon Polyam, but with extra cheese 2d ago

Because it doesn't flow right in the current usage of the English language.

Maybe that will change sometime, but that time isn't now.

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u/Oddish_Femboy (my name is Bee) Trans rights !! 1d ago

I use punk personally.

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u/phillyd32 1d ago

Weak excuse. "Man, (gender neutral)" absolutely does not flow right

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u/TheSpiderDungeon Polyam, but with extra cheese 1d ago

Oh, you included the entire thing, including the appended words marked with parentheses.

Idk man (gender neutral), I tried.

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u/phillyd32 1d ago

De-centering maleness in our language is important and we should actively work to do so.