Syntax

The Technical Stuff:
In linguistics, the study of the rules that govern the ways in which words combine to form phrases, clauses, and sentences. Syntax is one of the major components of grammar.

Example:
"Syntax and vocabulary are overwhelming constraints--the rules that run us. Language is using us to talk--we think we’re using the language, but language is doing the thinking, we’re its slavish agents."
(Harry Mathews)