Grammatical errors and orthographic mishaps are often played for laughs, but this subtle sanctioning by the sticklerocracy can have real social consequences too. Jessica Flanigan argues that grammarianism often maintains existing hierarchies and imposes arbitrary barriers to knowledge production and innovation.

Introduction 1.Grammarians And Grammar School 1.1 Education, Economics, And Citizenship 1.2 The Problems with Literacy Instruction 1.3 Disability and Disadvantage 1.4 Spelling Rituals and Parent Choice 1.5 The Style Guide 1.6 The Golden Age 1.7 Conclusion 2. Spellocratic Sanctioning 2.1 Language and Law 2.2 The Ethics of Social Sanctions 2.3 Advice 2.4 Manners 2.5 Grammarian Gaslighting 2.6 Offense 2.7 Conclusion 3. Sticklers And Stigma 3.1 Social Egalitarianism 3.2 Class 3.3 Gender 3.4 Sexuality and Sexual Identity 3.5 Race, Ethnicity, And Regionalism 3.6 Culture, Language, And Appropriation 3.7 Pronouns and Politics 3.8 Gender, Grammar, And Politics 3.9 Egalitarian Language Policing 3.10 Conclusion 4. Pedants And Progress 4.1 The Anarchic Origins of Language 4.2 Flexible Language Today 4.3 Linguistic Solidarity 4.4 Linguistic Innovation ¯\_(¿)_/¯ 4.5 Linguistic Conservativism 4.6 Conclusion 5. A World Without Word-Warriors 5.1 Dispositions 5.2 Sticklerlessness 5.3 Is This Argument Self-Defeating? 5.4 Poor Spellers Untie! 5.5 Conclusion 6. Appendix