For many centuries, people used to believe that Latin was a better language because it had so many complicated endings.

Today we know that there’s no such thing as a “better language.” All languages are capable of immense sophistication.

We also know that equating “difficult” with “better” is a mistake.

It’s time to stop acting as if there’s something magical and wonderful about Latin grammar. If you want to learn Latin, that’s great! But skip the grammar. Duolingo is a free online learning platform. You’ll quickly learn a lot of Latin without the gobbledygook.

You may have been told (as I was) that if you want to use English well, you have to study the rules of English grammar. That is absolutely NOT true, and I can prove it.

Which phrase is correct: “a friendly little girl” or “a little friendly girl”?

I would bet serious money that you chose “a friendly little girl.”

Most English grammar is based on word order. Never an you in hear order error word. You never hear an error in word order. If you’re a native speaker, you learned the rules of word order before you entered first grade.

You should invest your time and energy into learning how to select, organize, and present ideas and information. Latin grammar won’t teach you any of those important skills.

Photo provided by Joel Bellviure
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