non-standard
non-standard — adjective
1. Different from what most people expect or accept as usual in a particular situat
Different from what most people expect or accept as usual in a particular situation or context.
The mechanic used a non-standard tool for the rusted bolt when no normal wrench fit.
attributive use: non-standard + noun (tool/method/size)
Noor's doctor prescribed a non-standard treatment for her rare condition since standard drugs failed.
The old apartment had non-standard plumbing — galvanized iron instead of modern copper — that confused every repair person who visited.
After the power went out, Joaquín found a non-standard way to keep food cold instead of using a fridge.
The local bakery sells bread in non-standard shapes, such as stars and animals, instead of the usual round loaves.
- unconventional
often suggests a deliberate choice to be different rather than accidentally deviating
- atypical
more formal; focuses on not matching the expected pattern or type
- abnormal
has a stronger negative or medical connotation; implies something is wrong or undesirable
- irregular
suggests something does not follow normal rules or patterns, often in a technical sense
文法句型
non-standard + noun
it is non-standard to + infinitive
常見錯誤
2. Describes a word, pronunciation, or grammatical form that most educated people d
Describes a word, pronunciation, or grammatical form that most educated people do not accept as correct in formal contexts.
'Gonna' is a non-standard spelling of 'going to' that appears frequently in casual conversation.
non-standard before nouns about language (spelling/pronunciation/grammar)
Felix's English teacher explained that double negatives are non-standard in most formal writing.
The Appalachian dialect contains many non-standard verb forms that are perfectly normal for local speakers.
Tara's grandmother corrected her non-standard use of 'less' right before the school speech competition.
Linguists recorded non-standard grammar patterns from elderly speakers in rural villages, contrasting them with the standard forms taught in schools.
- substandard
stronger negative judgment; implies the language is of unacceptable quality, not just different from the standard
- ungrammatical
narrower meaning; specifically violates grammar rules, while non-standard may also cover pronunciation or word choice
- dialectal
neutral descriptor for language forms tied to a specific region; does not carry the same 'incorrect' judgment
文法句型
non-standard + noun (word/phrase/pronunciation/grammar/usage)
用法筆記
This sense is most commonly used before nouns about language, such as 'word', 'pronunciation', 'grammar', or 'usage'. Non-standard language is not necessarily wrong in all situations — it may be perfectly appropriate in informal speech or regional dialects. The term describes what educated speakers avoid in formal writing, not what is inherently incorrect.