> This phrase is so common it's practically correct.
In fact, that's how language works. Whatever emerges from organic use is correct language. We the people decide what proper English is, collectively, not a prestigious university or renowned scholar or classic textbook.
This is always used as some kind of gotcha, but it misses the obvious fact that people or institutions or textbooks arguing and implementing standards are themselves a part of that organic process. The organicness is the whole thing.
Sure, I don't disagree. But so is deviating from that standard. I'm just talking about people who are overly restrictive of their own language usage. The best authors broke rules and made up words as needed.
Yes you’re right and I hesitated putting that in there, but in the article itself, it’s written in such a way that I found confusing. Especially when the rest of the text doesn’t seem very familiar with the sociology / philosophy of religion.
Probably an unnecessary quibble to have, and I shouldn’t have included it.
In fact, that's how language works. Whatever emerges from organic use is correct language. We the people decide what proper English is, collectively, not a prestigious university or renowned scholar or classic textbook.