Comments on: Three Grammar Rules You Can (And Should) Break

By: When to Ignore Your Grammarian's Evaluation : TASC Toastmasters

When to Ignore Your Grammarian's Evaluation : TASC Toastmasters — Sat, 16 Jul 2011 14:02:34 +0000

[...] to give and wether it was received than if I split an infinitive in my choice of words. I read an article this morning on Copyblogger, one of my favorite websites for giving solid advice to and providing [...]

By: Russ Mars

Russ Mars — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 17:30:40 +0000

“I strategy avoided the example of “Where are you right now?” Which is an example of when ending the sentence with a preposition is reasonable. But in this case “now” is a measurement of time.”

Stacy, I’d like to point out some errors in your three sentences, above. This is, after all, a discussion of grammar and writing.

In the first sentence, second word: That should be “strategically” not “strategy.”

As to the last two sentences, I’m not even sure I can believe what I see. Are you really suggesting “now” is a preposition? Hate to burst your bubble, but it’s not. “Now’ can be identified and function as many different parts of speech, but of all of them, preposition is not one of them.

I apologize if I mistook what your wrote, but then, perhaps you should have written it more clearly.

By: Dr. Naquib

Dr. Naquib — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 14:50:10 +0000

Andrew:

What happens when the phrasal verb is composed of a verb + an adverb particle ? Can we still end a sentence as you suggested ?

Can we sa y?

To the recipients, the president gave the prizes away.

By: Dr. Naquib

Dr. Naquib — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 14:40:16 +0000

Andrew:

What happens when the phrasal verb is composed of a verb + an adverb particle ? Can we still end a sentence as you suggested ?

By: davidinengland

davidinengland — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 09:09:30 +0000

This is fine stuff, except…

“Except that it’s really not that big OF a deal.” UGGGHHH! I loathe the ‘of’ that so often obtrudes into US sentences of this type.

‘He is something of a poet’ – fine. The ‘of’ is doing something. The sentence dies without it.

‘It’s not that good of a show’. No, different kind of sentence. You can (and must) excise the ‘of”. Without the ‘of’, the sentence twinkles (mildly).

“But this is a page about US English. In the United States, everyone says ‘not that something of a something’.” The most attentive American writers don’t. Does Philip Roth? Did Saul Bellow? Would the editing elves at the New Yorker let it through?

But, like I said… good and useful page.

Regards from the Third World,
david

By: Most underrated fish - Page 4

Most underrated fish - Page 4 — Sun, 27 Feb 2011 02:43:23 +0000

[...] adult around here. Oh! and according to this, I can break the 'And' rule if I want. So…. there. http://www.copyblogger.com/grammar-rules-to-break/ __________________ Algae happens. The intensity of light drives the plant's need for [...]

By: Stacy B

Stacy B — Sat, 22 Jan 2011 22:44:27 +0000

I wish I had time to read everyone’s post to ensure I am not being redundant. One of my biggest pet peeves is ending sentences with a preposition when it is not necessary. Take that ridiculous commercial by the mobile phone company, Boost Mobile, where the catch phrase is “Where you at?” Seriously, this is where ending sentences with prepositions makes people sound like they are idiots. The “at” is unnecessary and leaves the listener waiting for the rest of the sentence, like “Where are you today?”. I strategy avoided the example of “Where are you right now?” Which is an example of when ending the sentence with a preposition is reasonable. But in this case “now” is a measurement of time.

I think in blogging a more relaxed style of writing is reasonable but certainly in professional writing it is important to stick to the rules.

By: Frankie Cooper

Frankie Cooper — Sun, 12 Dec 2010 12:59:38 +0000

Excellent lesson on grammar rules.

By: Russ Mars

Russ Mars — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 17:42:22 +0000

Good point, AD. In order to break the rules effectively, one must first know the rules.

There is a vast difference between lack of intelligence and lack of knowledge. An hour-old baby can have the intelligence of Einstein, but it knows nothing.

By: Kevin

Kevin — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 17:12:17 +0000

Jordan, I’m not sure what your point is when you say all grammar rules are made up. So are all the words in every language ever in existence and every single meaning attached to them. So it is, too, with all the laws of civilization, how we identify and label what occurs in nature, keep track of time, utilize mathematics, the names we call each other, the places we live and the maps we use to locate them and our place in the universe. Practically our entire human experience, how we relate to it, identify it and communicate our perspective on it is made up. It’s all made up!

Do you suggest total abandonment of it all? Where shall the embarkation point for a return to total chaos be marked as you recreate things?