Dutch language constructions like groter als and hele mooie auto may seem wrong, but are they really? As Marten van der Meulen’s PhD research reveals, twentieth-century Dutch grammar books show considerable variation in the evaluation of language issues. What’s wrong to one person is right to another. Linguistic issues can also develop differently, with language experts become stricter or more relaxed over time. These books appear to have a more complex relationship with actual language use than is often assumed. Statements like ‘this is becoming commonplace’ and ‘this is normal in everyday language’ tend to miss the mark. However, one case study on language rules and their application in Dutch parliamentary reports point to a link between language use and language rules. Attitude also plays a complicated role in this, which makes this dissertation an important starting point for re-evaluating the complex interplay between language norms, language use and language attitude.