Grammar Nazi

[smc]

Originally Posted by curiousguy221

Would anyone here describe themselves as Grammar Nazis? i know a lot of people who are like this and I often find that i correct others and insist on speaking correctly.

I have certainly been accused of being someone who corrects others a lot. And so, I'm going to take this opportunity to "correct" you on your use of the word Nazis, which I find to be an affront. I want to point out that I do not ascribe to you any malice in your use of the term, only a lack of sensitivity.

It has become commonplace to use the word "Nazi" in this way, as defined in The Urban Dictionary:

2. more recently, it has become a slang term used to described people who are overly concerned about details (in an unhealthy way), and like to correct others on every occasion they get. Especially evident on internet forums, blogs, and youtube

The Seinfeld TV program, for instance, gave us the "Soup Nazi" -- the proprietor of a small takeout restaurant (serving soup) who was very temperamental and insisted that customers follow strict rules of behavior when ordering his product.

Now, think about it. The term "Nazi" comes from Nationalsozialismus, the German word for the ideology of the political party of the same name led by Adolph Hitler. I don't think I need to recount what the Nazis stood for, and what their supporters today continue to espouse.

When the term "Nazi" is used as in "Soup Nazi" or "Grammar Nazi," it is a double-edged sword of inappropriateness. On the one hand, it elevates the idea of insisting on protocols for ordering soup or using proper grammar to the level of how the Nazis dealt with the things they wished to change, which is patently ridiculous. On the other hand, it diminishes the distinction between the true meaning of the word Nazi and these "lesser" uses. Over time, doing that in language tends to cause people to forget important things about what words represent.

Some may call me some kind of "Nazi" for posting this in response to your question, but I will risk that misuse of the term for the opportunity to make the case that we ought to think carefully about such careless bandying about of words.