This study examines a single English language usage problem, number agreement in the variants of the species noun phrase ; e.g. 'these kinds of errors' vs. 'these kind of errors' vs. 'errors of... Show moreThis study examines a single English language usage problem, number agreement in the variants of the species noun phrase ; e.g. 'these kinds of errors' vs. 'these kind of errors' vs. 'errors of this kind' from three perspectives: those of linguists, prescriptivists and the general public. The study, framed by the descriptions given in modern reference grammars and theoretical analyses (the linguists), is conducted within the historical perspective of the advice given in usage guides published between 1770 and 2010 and beyond (the prescriptivists). The general public is represented in an online attitude survey of the variant forms, and by an analysis of a corpus of un-copy-edited academic writing that was compiled specifically for this study. The main findings are (i) that there is a great deal of harmony between the views of the three groups studied, and that, on the basis of these analyses, the popular view of 'descriptive' linguists in conflict with 'prescriptive' usage guides is not justified; and (ii) that the innovative use of multiple contextualised examples in the attitude survey contributes to the suggestion of - a cline of acceptability - on the part of the general public, rather than a simple - acceptable- vs. - unacceptable stance- . Show less
