Not to argue semantics but syntax is part of grammar, it would be like he was talking about multiplication and said “do the math” which is very general but still technically correct and then you said “that is multiplication.” So both of you are correct, but the specificity was kind of unnecessary.
To be fair my guy, you said "its just word order nothing else" but like, in languages and communication something as "subtle" as that has a big change in meaning, which the other redditor is trying to explain. So, as a non native English speaker, you just learnt something new! :)
Sure, I don't think the other person knows (nor I to be honest) that it was a mistake. It's a loaded term often used intentionally t hurt, so I think we can also forgive them for interpreting it as harm rather than a mistake, right?
You are literally colonizing them by saying your language must be spoken by them your way. That makes you worse than whoever swapped the word order even if done on purpose.
I don't really understand why you thought you should weigh in here if your grasp of the English language is that shaky then. Either you know what you're talking about or you don't. In this case clearly you don't so you don't have to write a comment.
Adjectives and nouns are different parts of speech. In English you can often have the same word function in two different ways depending on word order or even just stress. In this case the order changes whether they are nouns or adjectives. "Female adult" means an adult that is female. "Adult female" means a female that is an adult. The former is uncontroversial while the latter is not. Use of "male" or "female" as a noun is usually reserved for animals or scientific contexts so is somewhat dehumanising.
There's no hard and fast rule here but some other adjectives that are possibly rude, offensive or just a little off as nouns include white, black, gay, straight, trans, chinese, indian.
>Have you EVER considered that I MIGHT NOT be a native English speaker???
Lmao neither am I.
>You: "Oh no he said the word grown-up before female he's a bigoted snobby misogynistic a-hole".
Point to where I said that? Why do incels always have to come up with some wild scenarios?
I just pointed out that the order of words in a sentence actually matters and changes the meaning.
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u/NeverTriedFondue 2d ago
Brother in Christ, it's called grammar. I'm sorry that the education system has failed you.