Do grammatical errors make your blood boil? Here’s the scientific explanation.

We ‘literally’ can’t even.

Ever felt your blood boil over the incorrect use of “your” and “you’re”? Or felt your palms go sweaty while reading a management report with more rogue apostrophes and misspelt words than you could count?

While some people in this world are content to let grammatical errors slide, others are completely enraged by them. If you’re part of the latter group, listen up: we now have a scientific explanation as to why your reaction is so severe.

According to a fascinating report by Mic.com, the incorrect use of the word ‘literally’ can be enough to send your brain into fight or flight mode. Yes, as in ‘survival of the fittest’ fight or flight mode.

Here’s how it works. When a so-called ‘grammarian’ encounters an inaccuracy, their body goes into overdrive in preparation for “battle” (which certainly explains the aggressive commenting behaviour of certain internet pedants). It releases adrenaline and cortisol, a hormone responsible for managing stress levels, and pumps blood to the muscles and extremities.

A bit heavy, no?

This heightened state doesn’t necessarily finish when the typo is amended. Although the initial annoyance tends to pass, there’s no switch in the brain to communicate that the grammatical crisis has ended, so the body remains in fight or flight mode.

For some pedants people, this can even have long-term effects on their bodies and well-being.