I find people who actually study language are more tolerant toward different pronunciations and informal speech and colloquialisms and less likely to be grammar nazis.
Probably because they understand that all language is made up and they all change constantly. There’s no hard and fast rules.
Language science/grammar/etc are all just observations of a natural phenomena, they are not laws to dictate.
Obligatory alt text:
“Do you feel like the answer depends on whether you’re currently in the hole, versus when you refer to the events later after you get out? Assuming you get out.”
XKCD should always include the alt text, imho. It’s often the better punchline (as in this case, imho.)
Fell down a hole implies that the hole is vertical and going downwards
In that case, does “I fell in a hole” imply that the hole is horizontal and going sideways?
See also “fell into a hole”.
To me, if you partially fall into a hole, ie. foot falls into a small pothole, you’ve fallen in it but not down it.
If I’m walking around in a hole and stumble, I’ve also fallen in a hole (but not into/down)