Word Nerds: Mything Out on Grammar
Having taught high school English for twenty years one of the biggest complaints my students voiced (besides writing essays) dealt with grammar rules. Well, as Bob Dylan sings, the times they are a-changing.
According to a recent Reader’s Digest article here are some grammar rules that are soon to be or are already changing going from missed to being acceptable (or is that mythed?).
According to the grammar experts at the Chicago Manual of Style, there is no actual rule that states it’s an error to start a sentence with a conjunction. And I believe them.
That age old rule of not ending a sentence with a preposition creates strange sentences such as, “What city from where did he travel?” instead of “What city did he come from?” Sometimes a sentence just has end naturally, like it’s supposed to.
Ah, the old discussion about splitting infinitives. First off know what an infinitive is before considering the need to split it. Says Wikipedia: An infinitive is a verb form that is used as a non-finite verb.
An example would be the well known tag line: “to boldly go where no one has gone before.” “To go” is the infinitive, and “boldly” splits it. No harm, no foul.
What to do when faced with the dilemma of adding that apostrophe “s” to a word ending in “s”? Which way is the write way (see what I did there?)
- I’m going to go over to see Mr. James’s new car.
- I’m going to go over to see Mr. James’ new car.
Trick question. They are both correct. It comes down to preferred style and consistency, using the same form throughout the writing is essential. Or it can be confusing to all those readers’ understanding of what your style is all about.
What other writing rules have you stumped?
Pam Webb 
I do find it a bit comical how many of the rules my high school English teacher was adamant about are no longer in fashion. She lost her mind if we started a sentence with a conjunction.
My pet peeve was the penchant for students to use “their” as a singular pronoun and now it is considered acceptable. Yet, RD didn’t list it as a myth.
I lost count of the number of parents who wrote me notes with “alot” written as one word.
I tend to go with my gut on the apostrophe “s” issue, because guts’s wisdom can always be trusted. Guts’ wisdom. Gutz’s wisdom. Never mind.
It takes guts to admit grammar indecision.
;>)
I love that you read the Reader’s Digest. I wrote about my love of the magazine in a posting many years ago and it has not diminished. I am a proud subscriber. Viva RD
Somehow I am on a helpful hints email list from RD. They have something for everyone.
I used to read it too! I will check the online version now 🙂 It needs time for us to get used to accepting these flaws. But, as with everything else in this evolving world, rules will change too!