proper English
Grammatically sound speech
Proper English refers to language use that follows established conventions of grammar, spelling, and vocabulary—what educated speakers would recognize as correct.
The term often carries prescriptive weight, suggesting there's a right way to speak or write: That's not proper English.
What counts as proper varies by context; formal writing demands stricter adherence than casual speech.
The phrase sometimes implies social judgment, distinguishing "correct" usage from dialects, slang, or non-native patterns.
- grammarLanguage's structural rules
- Queen's EnglishStandard British formal speech
- King's EnglishFormal British standard dialect
- formalFollowing strict protocol
- etiquetteRules of polite conduct
diction · articulate · polished · refined · eloquent · posh · upper crust · old money · Oxford · public school · BBC · correct · manners · elocution · crisp · cultured · well-spoken · precise
- British AccentsGeordie, Brummie, Queen's English, RP, Glaswegian
proper Englishslang
Informal in-group vocabulary
street language · street talk · vernacular · casual speech · vulgar language
proper Englishdialect
Regional language variety
pidgin English · creole · patois · broken English · regional dialect
property, properly, improper, improperly, propriety, impropriety, proprietary, appropriate, inappropriate