Language Quote by George Eliot
“Correct English is the slang of prigs.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: “The English Language” (attributed), 1860
Correct English is merely a pretentious social marker, not a measure of intelligence.
In simple terms: Proper English is a class signal.
Key Takeaway
Focus on clear communication over strict correctness.
Themes
language
class
pretension
communication
social norms
Mood
critical
analytical
Type
sociological
observational
When to use this quote
- Public speaking
- writing workshops
- cross‑cultural dialogue
- education
Key Concepts
Sociolinguistics
prescriptivism
identity signaling
Questions to Reflect On
- How does language shape social perception?
- When is formal language essential?
A Different Perspective
May dismiss the value of grammatical precision.
![“all choice of words is a slang […] correct English is the slang of prigs who write history and essays.” quote by Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/a3d/anonymous-1_history_all-choice-of-words-is-a-slang-correct-e_2469071.jpg)
![“[W]e must learn to accommodate ourselves to the discovery that some of those cunningly-fashioned instruments called human souls have only a very limited range of music, and will not vibrate in the least under a touch that fills others with tremulous rapture or quivering agony.” quote by George Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/9be/george-eliot-84_agony_w-e-must-learn-to-accommodate-ourselves_12409.jpg)
