Disputes may arise when style guides disagree, when an older standard gradually loses traction, or when a guideline or judgment is confronted by large amounts of conflicting evidence or has its rationale challenged.
Unlike some languages, such as French (which has the Académie Française), English has no single authoritative governing academy, so assessments of correctness are made by "self-appointed authorities who, reflecting varying judgments of acceptability and appropriateness, often disagree.
"[26] While some variations in the use of language correlate with age, sex,[example needed] ethnic group, or region, others may be taught in schools and be preferred in the context of interaction with strangers.
[26] Because of the stigma attached to violating prescriptivist norms, speakers and writers sometimes incorrectly extend usage rules beyond their scope in attempting to avoid mistakes.
[27] Particularly in older prescriptivist works, recommendations may be based on personal taste, confusion between informality and ungrammaticality,[27] or arguments related to other languages, such as Latin.
Nonetheless, disputes can sometimes arise: for example, it is a matter of some debate in India whether British, American, or Indian English is the best form to use.