The Grammar Police are back. This time, several English speakers have appealed their convictions. The judge has warned the officers that formal writing, everyday conversation and regional English are not always the same thing.

Review the six disputed sentences. Are they clearly wrong in standard English, acceptable as written, or dependent on variety and situation? Give a verdict with a reason—not just a red pen.

1. A news interview: “The team are playing brilliantly today.”
2. A family conversation: “There’s two biscuits left.”
3. A friend’s description: “She’s taller than me.”
4. A formal application: “Me and my brother have been running the shop for ten years.”
5. A café conversation: “Can I get a coffee, please?”
6. A short email: “Hopefully, we’ll hear back tomorrow.”

Extra challenge: Choose one sentence and defend two versions of it: the version you would say to a friend and the version you would put in a formal report. Explain your choices.