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What Is Good English
Hardcover
General ReferenceGrammar & StyleLinguistics
ISBN13: 9781026078815
Publisher: Tradd Street Press
Published: Feb 14 2026
Pages: 130
Weight: 0.80
Height: 0.38 Width: 6.14 Depth: 9.21
Language: English
What Is Good English is a significant exploration into the standards of the English language and the principles that define effective communication. Written by the distinguished linguist Charles C. Fries, this work investigates the often-debated distinction between formal, prescriptive grammar and actual linguistic practice. Rather than adhering to rigid or arbitrary rules, Fries examines the evolution of usage and the social factors that influence what is considered correct in various cultural and academic contexts.
The book serves as both a scholarly inquiry and a thoughtful guide for educators, writers, and students interested in the mechanics of speech and writing. It addresses fundamental questions regarding the nature of language change, the authority of traditional grammarians, and the role of the community in establishing linguistic norms. By prioritizing functional clarity and social relevance over dogmatic conventions, What Is Good English offers a pragmatic perspective on how we evaluate and improve our command of the language. This foundational text remains a vital contribution to the fields of sociolinguistics and English pedagogy, providing timeless insights for anyone seeking to understand the living reality of the English tongue.
This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you may see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.
This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.
As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.
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