Why It's OK to Have Bad Spelling and Grammar

Jessica Flanigan is the Richard L. Morrill Chair in Ethics and Democratic Values at the University of Richmond, where she teaches Leadership Ethics, Ethical Decision Making in Healthcare, and Critical Thinking. Her research addresses the ethics of public policy, medicine, and business. In Pharmaceutical Freedom (2017), she defends rights of self-medication. In Debating Sex Work (2019), she defends the decriminalization of sex work.

• Introduction 1.Grammarians And Grammar School 1.1 Education, Economics, And Citizenship 1.2 The Problems with Literacy Instruction 1.3 Disability and Disadvantage 1.4 Spelling Rituals and Parent Choice 1.5 The Style Guide 1.6 The Golden Age 1.7 Conclusion 2. Spellocratic Sanctioning 2.1 Language and Law 2.2 The Ethics of Social Sanctions 2.3 Advice 2.4 Manners 2.5 Grammarian Gaslighting 2.6 Offense 2.7 Conclusion 3. Sticklers And Stigma 3.1 Social Egalitarianism 3.2 Class 3.3 Gender 3.4 Sexuality and Sexual Identity 3.5 Race, Ethnicity, And Regionalism 3.6 Culture, Language, And Appropriation 3.7 Pronouns and Politics 3.8 Gender, Grammar, And Politics 3.9 Egalitarian Language Policing 3.10 Conclusion 4. Pedants And Progress 4.1 The Anarchic Origins of Language 4.2 Flexible Language Today 4.3 Linguistic Solidarity 4.4 Linguistic Innovation ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 4.5 Linguistic Conservativism 4.6 Conclusion 5. A World Without Word-Warriors 5.1 Dispositions 5.2 Sticklerlessness 5.3 Is This Argument Self-Defeating? 5.4 Poor Spellers Untie! 5.5 Conclusion 6.

“We are surrounded by the grammar police, and for most of my life I have been inclined to surrender peacefully with my hands up. Jessica Flanigan’s vigorous defense of grammatical anarchism is the intervention I didn’t know I needed. This book is essential reading for grammatical sticklers and deviants alike!” -- Matthew Strohl, University of Montana“Tackling everything from spelling and grammar to sanctions and style, Flanigan provides a fascinating foray into the evolving linguistic landscape of our digital age. An enjoyable and enlightening read!” -- Gregory Robson, Iowa State University“Jessica Flanigan takes no prisoners in this riposte to linguistic busybodies. She won’t change their minds. Nothing will. But those under their influence, including ordinary teachers who are ‘just trying to help,’ will now think long and hard before correcting a misplaced hyphen. For that, we must thank her. This is a welcome reminder that grammar, spelling, punctuation, and so on, exist to serve humanity, not vice versa. Read and enjoy.” -- Alex Barber, The Open University