>Scoolteachers but not linguists is a very particular use of the word "stature".

I believe I implied linguists twice, once falling under the "etc" banner and once again in "authority figures". If you choose not to read that, I can't take the blame.

> I believe I implied linguists twice

Tenuous. But we clearly disagree about what it is that linguists do. I go by this description:

> "Does linguistics tell people how to speak or write properly?

> No. Linguistics is descriptive, not prescriptive.

http://www.ling.upenn.edu/courses/ling001/prescription.html

which to my mind means that they do not "talk about proper grammar vs improper".

So... did you just bring up the subject of linguists simply so you could argue with me about what linguists do? I spoke about authorities on language. I believe this includes linguists amongst many others. English teachers are at the forefront of this as they will be the ones enforcing proper English usage, and as such they were the ones I spoke about by name. If you use the language wrong in school, you get marked down to reinforce the correct usage.

You happened to call out linguists as well, so I agreed with you that while I didn't mention them specifically, I was including them in the category of authority under the "etc" label. You then proceed to tell me I'm wrong because linguists don't work that way. Seems to me like you wanted to bait me into a trap. I don't think I fell for it in quite the way you were hoping.

Preofessional students of language would seem to be authorities on use of language, which is why I queried your use of the word "stature". It's an odd word to use about authorities on language, and it took a while to get to what you mean since you seemed to be assuming that I already knew what you meant.

"By stature I mean anyone in position to talk about proper grammar vs improper. As in an English teacher/professor, an editor, etc vs someone off the street."

"Importance or reputation gained by ability or achievement: 'an architect of international stature'"

A person of stature in the English language would be, by my consideration, someone who is notable for upholding the generally accepted usage of the English language. An English teacher has been professionally trained in proper English. An editor is tasked with enforcing proper English. Students being professionally (and specifically) trained in the English language would be suitable for being authorities, but they not necessarily of stature.

I didn't think I had worded it ambiguously, but here it is reworded: I don't think anyone who has a reputation gained from achievement in the subject of proper American English would argue that "could care less" is a good substitute for "couldn't care less".