This Week's Inquirer: ‘Women’ vs. ‘people with a capacity for pregnancy:’ Which is right?

Good writing is as precise and concise as possible, and good grammar helps us get there. But what’s a grammarian to do when precise and concise are at odds with each other?

Why is grammar important?

If you said, “because rules should be followed,” “because it’s what I learned in school,” “because we need standards and consistency,” or anything similarly small-minded, you’re part of the problem. Please stop.

The reason is simple: Good writing is as precise and concise as possible, and good grammar helps us get there.

But what’s a grammarian to do when precise and concise are at odds with each other?

The ways we talk about abortion and gender — particularly in the wake of Roe v. Wade’s downfall — illustrate the problem.

Read this week’s full column at Inquirer.com.