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Bas Aarts

@englishgrammar.bsky.social

1.8K followers 3.4K following 54 posts

Professor of English Linguistics, UCL Here, I post on (English) language topics. On Substack, I post on English Grammar: https://basaarts.substack.com/ #grammar #syntax #parsing

basaarts.substack.com

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Bas Aarts @englishgrammar.bsky.social · Dec 8

My new substack on English Grammar is up and running:
basaarts.substack.com

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Bas Aarts @englishgrammar.bsky.social · Aug 14

Did you attend this year's #EnglishGrammarDay? Check out this review by Peter Clark:

languagemiscellany.com/2025/08/engl...

English Grammar Day 2025 - Language Miscellany

I went last month to an event called English Grammar Day, hosted by University College London (UCL), the University of Oxford and the British Library. This annual event has been held ten times, but I ...

languagemiscellany.com

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Bas Aarts @englishgrammar.bsky.social · Aug 13

I’m referring to the mention of linguistics as somehow being a boring subject that someone was coerced into studying

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Bas Aarts @englishgrammar.bsky.social · Aug 13

This really annoyed me in today’s UK press, a day before A-level results day

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Bas Aarts @englishgrammar.bsky.social · Jul 7

Great turnout at the 2025 #EnglishGrammarDay organised by UCL’s @uclenglishusage.bsky.social, @engfac.bsky.social and @britishlibrary.bsky.social

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Bas Aarts @englishgrammar.bsky.social · Jun 30

Next week!

events.bl.uk/events/engli...

#EnglishGrammarDay #Grammar #EnglishLanguage

@bethmalory.bsky.social
@hwimbushenglish.bsky.social
@debsadelight.bsky.social
@robdrummond.bsky.social
@billylinguist.bsky.social
@artshumsucl.bsky.social
@britishlibrary.bsky.social
@engfac.bsky.social

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Bas Aarts @englishgrammar.bsky.social · Jun 27

New Substack post: On so-called adjective clauses: a label to avoid

tinyurl.com/yc32zr4a

#grammar #adjectiveclause #TeHirangaTangata #nzcurriculum

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Bas Aarts @englishgrammar.bsky.social · Jun 21

probably

Bas Aarts @englishgrammar.bsky.social · Jun 21

Another day, another daft grammar quiz:

www.independent.co.uk/life-style/g...

Test yourself with our ultimate grammar quiz

Inspired by the passionate response to the semicolon’s supposed decline, this quiz invites you to test – and perhaps rediscover – your grasp of English grammar, from the basics to the beautifully obsc...

www.independent.co.uk

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Bas Aarts @englishgrammar.bsky.social · Jun 13

Come to this fabulous event, hosted by Charlotte Brewer, Jonnie Robinson and me on 7 July.

tinyurl.com/36z77b29

#EnglishGrammarDay #grammar
@blevents.bsky.social
@engfacoutreach.bsky.social
@bethmalory.bsky.social
@hwimbushenglish.bsky.social
@robdrummond.bsky.social
@artshumsucl.bsky.social

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Bas Aarts @englishgrammar.bsky.social · May 31

The question is WHY does it irritate you? Genuine question.

Bas Aarts @englishgrammar.bsky.social · May 31

No, it doesn’t matter.

Reposted by Bas Aarts

Linguistic Discovery @linguisticdiscovery.com · May 1

Do our brains try to predict what’s coming next in a sentence? It may depend on the language you speak

www.scientificamerican.com/article/does...

#linguistics #language #neuroscience #English #Dutch @SciAm.bsky.social

Do You Think Differently in Different Languages?

The brain’s response to information depends on language’s grammatical structure

www.scientificamerican.com

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Bas Aarts @englishgrammar.bsky.social · May 20

There's more:

www.independent.co.uk/life-style/s...

Our best punctuation mark is dying out; people need to learn how to use it

The poor, misunderstood semicolon is under threat. Helen Coffey laments its decline and makes the case for re-educating ourselves on its usefulness as the chicest grammatical tool

www.independent.co.uk

Bas Aarts @englishgrammar.bsky.social · May 18

FWIW, the Guardian article says that the semicolon appears "typically between two main clauses". In your case it separates a noun phrase from a clause. But yes, you can't have a full stop or comma there. You could have a colon, though....

Bas Aarts @englishgrammar.bsky.social · May 18

You could have used one here! 🙂

Bas Aarts @englishgrammar.bsky.social · May 18

I never use semicolons, except sometimes in lists.

Do you?

www.theguardian.com/science/2025...

Marked decline in semicolons in English books, study suggests

Usage of punctuation down almost half in two decades as further research finds 67% of British students rarely use it

www.theguardian.com

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Bas Aarts @englishgrammar.bsky.social · May 14

"Could the English language die?"

Nah....

www.theguardian.com/books/2025/m...

The big idea: could the English language die?

For the time being it’s dominant – but as the Romans could tell you, nothing lasts for ever

www.theguardian.com

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Bas Aarts @englishgrammar.bsky.social · May 3

Book now for the English Grammar Day!

Teachers: do bring your GCSE and A-level students!

www.ucl.ac.uk/english/engl...

#EnglishGrammarDay #grammar

@blevents.bsky.social @engfac.bsky.social @engfacoutreach.bsky.social @bethmalory.bsky.social @hwimbushenglish.bsky.social @robdrummond.bsky.social

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Bas Aarts @englishgrammar.bsky.social · Apr 30

New Substack post: Can clauses function as Subject?

basaarts.substack.com/p/can-clause...

#grammar

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Bas Aarts @englishgrammar.bsky.social · Apr 8

New Substack post on Subjects.

basaarts.substack.com/p/subjects

#EnglishGrammar

Subjects

How do we define the notion of ‘Subject’ in grammar?

basaarts.substack.com

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Bas Aarts @englishgrammar.bsky.social · Apr 4

Together with Charlotte Brewer and Jonnie Robinson I am one of the organisers of the #EnglishGrammarDay which will take place again at the British Library on 7 July. Book here: events.bl.uk/events/engli...

Englicious - Free English Language Resources for Schools @engliciousucl.bsky.social · Apr 4

English Grammar Day is back for 2025 -- and tickets are on sale now!

Join us on Mon 7 July at the British Library for another great roster of speakers and discussion of all things grammar!

#EnglishGrammarDay

🔗Booking and more info:

www.ucl.ac.uk/english-usag...