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People

It is better that the grammarians should chide us than that the people should not understand us.

— St. Augustine

A small brass horn, a curved red pencil and two pale seashells on a cobalt blue surface.
Original artwork
Behind the line May contain spoilers.

Our reading

An editorial interpretation.

Clear communication beats correct grammar. Being scolded by language experts is a fair price if ordinary listeners actually follow what's said. The quote ranks being understood above being technically proper, and it says so with a small, cheerful preference.

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