Word
prescriptive
Phoneticspre·scrip·tive
UK/pɹɪskɹˈɪptɪv/
Definition
adj. describing rules or advice that tells you exactly what you must do. It is often used when someone is very strict about how a language or a system should be used.
adj. relating to the establishment of rules or standards that dictate how something should be done. Often contrasted with descriptive approaches that merely observe how people actually behave.
Examples
“The grammar book has a very prescriptive approach to language.”
“While some linguists prefer a descriptive view of how people speak, others follow a prescriptive style that focuses on strict rules.”
“The committee's prescriptive guidelines left little room for individual creativity, forcing all members to adhere strictly to the established formatting standards regardless of their specific project needs.”
Examples
simple
“The grammar book has a very prescriptive approach to language.”
contextual
“While some linguists prefer a descriptive view of how people speak, others follow a prescriptive style that focuses on strict rules.”
complex
“The committee's prescriptive guidelines left little room for individual creativity, forcing all members to adhere strictly to the established formatting standards regardless of their specific project needs.”
Real-World Examples
“She doesn't follow a prescriptive plan, she says, but instead makes changes intuitively.” “This can create tensions between ambitions for broader change and established ways of working, as well as between flexibility and more prescriptive reporting requirements.” Etymology
From Latin praescriptivus (“relating to a legal exception”), from praescript- (“directed in writing”), from the verb praescribere.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/prescriptive