The Usenet newsgroup alt.usage.english is devoted to discussion of the English language, especially its usage. It was newgrouped (begun) on May 11 1991 by David Bedno .

The newsgroup frequently strays off-topic; indeed, many threads are begun with off-topic messages.

Among its on-topic posts are reports of odd usage (including mishy-phens ), discussions of differences in the various dialects of English, and newbie-type questions.

Each summer, there is a Summer Doldrums Competition to enliven the newgroup; it consists of questions that the newsgroup's denizens must race to answer correctly.

There is a Web site associated with the newsgroup — http://www.alt-usage-english.org — which incorporates, among many other things, lists of frequently asked questions about the English language.

One denizen of AUE occasionally posts to AUE what he terms a "Letter to Sis", consisting of his commentary on the goings-on in the newsgroup.

The newsgroup is the source of Skitt's law.