Grammar Nazi
The Nazi Party and its leader, Adolf Hitler (1889-1945), are well known. “The Soup Nazi” episode of the television sitcom Seinfeld (original airdate on November 2, 1995) made the term “[X] Nazi” popular.
A “grammar Nazi” is someone who is a stickler for grammar, while often ignoring the author’s overall message. “Grammar Nazi on the Rampage!” appears to have been posted on the newsgroup alt.gothic on January 19, 1995—before the Seinfeld episode. “Grammar Nazi” began to be used frequently from 1998-2000. The term “Grammar Nazi” was entered in the Urban Dictionary on November 23, 2002.
“The guy who wrote Hitler’s speeches was a grammar nazi” was posted on Twitter by fat jackson on July 16, 2013. “The person who would proof read Hitler’s speeches was a grammar Nazi” is a joke that was posted on Reddit—Showerthoughts on February 12, 2014. “The person who proof read Hitler’s speeches, was the original grammar Nazi” was posted on Reddit—Oneliners on July 16, 2019.
“What do you call a grammar Nazi?”/“A corrections officer” is a related riddle.
Wiktionary: grammar Nazi
Etymology
grammar + Nazi (“one who imposes one’s views on others; one who is considered unfairly oppressive or needlessly strict”)
Noun
grammar Nazi (plural grammar Nazis)
1. (slang, idiomatic, potentially offensive, see usage note at Nazi) A person who habitually corrects or criticizes the language usage of others.
Wikipedia: The Soup Nazi
“The Soup Nazi” is the 116th episode of the NBC sitcom Seinfeld, which was the sixth episode of the seventh season. It first aired in the United States on November 2, 1995.
The Soup Nazi is also the nickname of the eponymous character, Yev Kassem, played by Larry Thomas. The term “Nazi” is used as an exaggeration of the excessively strict regimentation he constantly demands of his patrons (cf. Grammar Nazi).
Google Groups: alt.gothic
Grammar Nazi on the Rampage!
Marc Savlov
1/19/95
Charles Burns (.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)) wrote:
: Hey Petro, I’m sorry I’ve got to do this, but you post so often that
: you’re attribution line comes up too frequently for me to stand any longer. ...
26 July 1998, The Gazette (Montreal, Quebec), “Soldiers of misfortune” by John Otis, pg. D2, col. 3:
At customs, a brusque grammar Nazi corrected Emblin’s faulty French pronunciation, but ignored his luggage.
8 June 1999, Harbour City Star (Nanaimo, BC), “Beyond Here” by Terry Denomme, pg. A3, col. 1:
Note: If an editor had read this column, no doubt he, or she, would have flagged the word leashless. However, I feel it’s my duty as a quasi-wordsmith to honour the dynamic nature of the English language. So relax, Grammar Nazi.
Google Groups: rec.arts.bodyart
Crooked Perenium
LadyJ
12/10/99
On Thu, 9 Dec 1999, LordMonkey wrote:
> Here’s how i look at it. If you can examine the Nazis politically and
> not socially (i.e. ignore the whole holocaust thing for a moment, not
> that that is something that should be regularly done), we see that
> politically they were fascists. By saying “grammar nazi” or whatever was
> originally said, you could just as easily say “grammar fascist.” I just
> think the former rolls off the tongue better.
That is exactly it.
Also, the use of “nazi” in this context was popularized by that episode of Seinfeld with the “Soup Nazi”. The Soup Nazi was this guy who made really great soup, but would only sell it to you if you followed the instructions. The instructions were to wait in the correct line, enunciate your order, step to the side, wait for your soup, and pay, without straying from the sequence by talking or asking questions.
Jess (Grammar Nazi)
20 January 2000, Toronto (ON) Star, “The author’s guide to bashing columnists,” pg. 1:
Be a pedantic Grammar Nazi.
Urban Dictionary
grammar Nazi
Someone who is addicted to correct usage of the English language; often a synonym for copy editors
The grammar Nazi tore this paper apart.
by Bleh November 23, 2002
Urban Dictionary
The Grammar Nazi
A person (usually on a forum/newsgroup/chat room) who makes a habit of constantly correcting others’ grammatical mistakes, often to the point of annoyance.
Lay off, already! The last thing we need is another fucking grammar nazi!
by Detonate January 06, 2004
OCLC WorldCat record
Confessions of a reformed grammar nazi
Author: Georgia Webster
Edition/Format: Article Article
Publication: Idiom, v48 n1 (2012): 25
Summary:
I want to share with you the story of my enlightenment. I’ve reached an awareness of myself and I feel so much better for it. This piece first appeared in The Trip, the magazine of Triple R community radio.
Twitter
fat jackson
@nba_stupidass
The guy who wrote Hitler’s speeches was a grammar nazi
1:06 AM - 16 Jul 2013
Reddit—Showerthoughts
Posted by u/PhantomDukie February 12, 2014
The person who would proof read Hitler’s speeches was a grammar Nazi.
Reddit—Jokes
Posted by u/Sabertoothpanda_ December 21, 2016
The person who proofread all of Hitler’s speeches
Was a Grammar Nazi ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
Reddit—Oneliners
Posted by u/GarciaJones August 4, 2019
The person who proofread Hitler’s speeches was a grammar Nazi.
Twitter
Shower Thoughts
@theshowerthough
The person who would proofread Hitler’s speeches was a grammar Nazi
5:54 PM - 3 Sep 2014
Twitter
MatPat
@MatPatGT
The person responsible for proof reading Hitler’s speeches was LITERALLY a grammar Nazi 😂
1:27 PM - 17 Jul 2016
Reddit—Oneliners
Posted by u/honolulu_oahu_mod July 16, 2019
The person who proof read Hitler’s speeches, was the original grammar Nazi.