grammar

Grammar is the system of rules that governs how a language forms words, phrases, and sentences. It covers how words change form (morphology), how those words combine into larger units (syntax), and how text is punctuated and spelled in standard writing practices. Grammar thus links meaning with form and usage.

Core components include morphology (word structure and inflection) and syntax (the arrangement of words in phrases and clauses). Punctuation and orthography (spelling and writing conventions) reflect grammatical choices in written language and aid clarity, while prosody and phonology influence spoken grammar to some extent.

There are two broad approaches to grammar: prescriptive grammar, which prescribes rules for "correct" usage, and descriptive grammar, which records how language is actually used by speakers and writers.

Grammar varies across languages. Word order, agreement, and inflection patterns differ widely, producing languages that are topic-prominent, subject-verb-object, or others. Some languages rely heavily on affixes; others use little morphology. Diglossia, dialects, and sociolects introduce variation in what is considered acceptable grammar.

In education and technology, grammar underpins literacy, language learning, and natural language processing, and it is a focus of study for linguists seeking to understand language structure and change.