politeness - Is "grammar nazi" politically correct?


I'm not a native English speaker and I'm puzzled where the use of grammar nazi would be appropriate.


I have seen it numerous times around the SE network and was wondering when the use would be appropriate and whether it is likely that someone might get offended.



Answer



For whatever reason, x Nazi is not as offensive as you'd expect in the US. There was a recurring character on Seinfeld known as the "soup Nazi" and nobody got bent out of shape.


That said, substituting the phrase "The Grammar Police" doesn't even put you at risk and may be more accurate (since the complaint is that the person is officiously interfering in the affairs of others, not that he or she is a racist genocidal maniac).


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