The Tribunal of Use: Agreement in Indefinite Constructions

Abstract

It is certainly the business of a grammarian to find out, and not to make, the laws of a language. . . . It matters not what causes these customs and fashions owe their birth to; the moment they become general, they are laws of the language; and a grammarian can only remonstrate, how much soever he disapprove. From his opinions and precepts an appeal may always be made to the tribunal of use, as to the supreme authority and last resort: for all language is merely arbitrary. -John Fell, 1784