grammaticality: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Technical/Academic
Quick answer
What does “grammaticality” mean?
The quality or state of conforming to the rules of grammar.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The quality or state of conforming to the rules of grammar.
In linguistics, the degree to which a sentence, phrase, or word is judged to be well-formed according to the rules of a specific language or grammar.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage.
Connotations
Purely technical; carries no regional connotations.
Frequency
Used exclusively in academic/linguistic contexts in both varieties, with identical frequency in those fields.
Grammar
How to Use “grammaticality” in a Sentence
[Noun] of grammaticalityGrammaticality of [Noun Phrase]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “grammaticality” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The grammaticality judgement task is a core method in syntax.
American English
- Grammaticality intuitions vary among native speakers.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
The primary context; used in linguistics and language teaching research.
Everyday
Not used in everyday conversation.
Technical
A core technical term in theoretical and applied linguistics.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “grammaticality”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “grammaticality”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “grammaticality”
- Mispronouncing it as */ɡrəˈmætɪkəlɪti/ (adding an extra syllable).
- Using it in non-technical contexts where 'correct grammar' or 'grammar rules' would be more natural.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Grammaticality strictly refers to conformity with the formal rules of grammar. Acceptability is broader and can be influenced by factors like style, social norms, or plausibility; a sentence can be grammatical but unacceptable.
No, it is an uncountable (mass) noun. You refer to 'the grammaticality of a sentence', not 'a grammaticality'.
Yes, in some linguistic theories, grammaticality is not simply a binary (yes/no) property. A sentence can be considered more or less grammatical, often related to how many or how serious the rule violations are.
Primarily linguists, language researchers, and advanced students of linguistics or English language teaching. It is not part of general vocabulary.
The quality or state of conforming to the rules of grammar.
Grammaticality is usually technical/academic in register.
Grammaticality: in British English it is pronounced /ɡrəˌmætɪˈkælɪti/, and in American English it is pronounced /ɡrəˌmætɪˈkælɪti/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'grammatical' + '-ity' (noun suffix for a quality). A sentence has grammaticalITY if it follows grammatical rules.
Conceptual Metaphor
GRAMMATICALITY IS A GRADIENT/SCALE (e.g., 'degrees of grammaticality').
Practice
Quiz
In which field is the term 'grammaticality' most commonly used?