Which term describes rules about language use that classify language as correct or incorrect?

• A. Prescriptive grammar
• B. Descriptive grammar
• C. Process writing
• D. Plenum

Answer: (A)

Prescriptive grammar describes the rules about how language should be used and what counts as correct or incorrect in formal contexts. It sets standards for grammar, punctuation, and usage, guiding how language is expected to look in textbooks, exams, and professional writing. This is about judging form and correctness according to agreed-upon norms.

In contrast, descriptive grammar looks at how people actually use language in everyday speech and writing, documenting patterns without labeling them as right or wrong. That distinction helps explain why some spoken forms that seem informal might be perfectly natural, while prescriptive rules still try to impose a more formal standard.

The other options aren’t about language rules for correctness. Process writing is a method focused on the stages of composing a piece, not on grammar rules. Plenum refers to a full assembly or meeting and has no connection to language usage rules.