Is unsymmetrical proper english?

Question

My teacher is dumb and makes grammar mistakes all of the time. She wrote unsymmetrical on the board and I corrected her saying that it should be 'asymmetrical.' She said, "No you're wrong. Unsymmetrical is correct because asymmetrical is when it doesn't have a shape at all."

Isn't unsymmetrical improper english!?!?

Answer 1

Asymmetrical and unsymmetrical are both fine words to describe something that has no symmetry. Amorphous is the proper word to describe something that has no definite shape (like an amoeba).

Answer 2

No., it's not improper English. The more common form is "asymmetrical," but "unsymmetrical" is perfectly proper. In spite of what some semi-literates said above, about its not being in a dictionary, I just looked up "unsymmetrical" and found it in my Oxford English Dictionary. You can also find it online. See the links below, for example.

In general, it is entirely proper English to use the prefix "un" as a combining form with most any adjective. Not every dictionary lists every possible combination of prefixes like "un" with every adjective, so you may not find it in some little dictionaries; but unsymmetrical is a perfectly good word, and so is asymmetrical.

Answer 3

You are correct. Asymmetrical is the standard word. There is no standard word unsymmetrical. Any dictionary will verify your position on this.

Answer 4

unsymmetrical, asymmetrical, and non-symmetrical all make it through spell check, so I'm assuming your teacher isn't as dumb as you think she is

Answer 5

You are right and she is wrong, and any good dictionary will back you up, my friend.

Answer 6

Shes right, your wrong http://www.bartleby.com/61/10/U0121000.html