Descriptive grammar is an approach to language that focuses on the actual usage patterns and

structures that are observed in natural language use. It aims to objectively describe and analyze the
linguistic features and behaviors without making judgments about what is 'correct' or 'incorrect'.
Descriptive grammar uncovers the fundamental principles of how people actually speak and write in
their daily lives.

On the other hand, prescriptive grammar is more about rules and guidelines for how a language 'should'
or 'ought to' be used. It often involves traditional rules of grammar and usage, and may label certain
forms as 'errors' even if they are common in everyday speech.

The main distinction between the two lies in their approach: while descriptive grammar describes how
the language is used in reality, prescriptive grammar explains how the language should be used
according to certain rules and standards.

Source: Amyrey Web, Pediaa, English Composition

Descriptive grammar and prescriptive grammar are two different approaches to language.

Descriptive grammar is concerned with describing the usage of language by native or non-native
speakers without reference to proposed norms of correctness or advocacy of rules based on such
norms. It's about observing and describing how language is actually used, not how it should be used.

On the other hand, prescriptive grammar focuses on how a language should or ought to be used. It's
about establishing norms and rules for language use. This approach often involves judgments about
what is 'correct' or 'incorrect' language use.

The main distinction between the two is that while prescriptive grammar tries to teach people the
'correct' way to speak and write a language, descriptive grammar is about understanding and explaining
the nature of language as it is actually used, without making judgments about what is 'correct' or
'incorrect'.

Source: UNC, Colin Gorrie, Pediaa

Descriptive grammar aims to objectively analyze and describe the linguistic features and behaviors
observed in natural language use. It is an approach that observes and records how language is actually
used by speakers. This includes the nuances and variations in everyday speech and writing.

Descriptive grammar is nonjudgmental. It doesn't dictate how language should be used or enforce
linguistic norms and rules. Instead, it describes various linguistic phenomena without judgment,
including the natural evolution and changes in a language. In this approach, a sentence is considered
"grammatical" if a native speaker of the language would produce that sentence in speaking.

Source: ThoughtCo, Language Humanities, YuBrain, UNC