Definition and Examples of Syntax
In linguistics, “syntax” refers to the rules governing how words combine to form phrases, clauses, and sentences. The term “syntax” comes from Greek, meaning “arrange together.” The term is used to mean the study of the syntactic properties of a language. In computer science, the term refers to the arrangement of symbols and codes so that the computer can recognize what instructions are telling it to do.
Syntax
- The syntax is the proper order of words in a phrase or sentence.
- A syntax is a tool used in writing grammatical sentences.
- Native speakers of a language learn correct syntax without realizing it.
- The complexity of a writer’s or speaker’s sentences generates a formal or informal level of diction that is presented to its audience.
