descriptive grammar

noun

1. an approach to grammar that is concerned with reporting the usage of native speakers without reference to proposed norms of correctness or advocacy of rules based on such norms.
2. a set of grammatical descriptions based on such an approach.

Example Sentences

However, since a basic purpose of this translation is within the context of the history of descriptive grammar, these tantalizing side roads have been left unexplored.

From Project Gutenberg