The progression of our English language moves forward quickly, and as usage evolves, so do the rules.
But, unlike many other countries, the United States doesn’t have regulatory bodies that oversee additions to the dictionary, spellings, pronunciations, and the like.
It’s a free-for-all here with no grammar police, although we do have style guides.
Today, I’ll address split infinitives–what they are and if using them is wrong. Spoiler alert: it’s not!
I just found I there are punctuation quizzes on the internet. Not a pretty sight for me, but a great learning tool. I tried the Merriam-Webster and the Northern Illinois. Both showed the correct answer with explanation.
I am uncomfortable with grammar. I most often go by the seat of my pants. I don’t think I have much trouble with proper word use, but punctuation; the placement of periods, commas, hyphens, semicolons, colons, and formatting is a problem. I go with what looks right. I use commas indiscriminately to separate phrases, make pauses, or add emphasis but I am sure I am wrong sometimes. Before writing this I took a 40-question online Oxford Grammar quiz and scored 36 of 40. But all the questions were about word use and not punctuation. The attached, which I keep editing… Read more »
I like your story about commas.
I keep working on it. It’s kinda therapeutic.
Patricia, the example of your book title really sticks with me. The way you published it gives it a punch. The correct way, is less so. Glad you stuck to your decision.
Grammatical correctness is something I strive for. But, just as right now, I tend to go with the method that is recent and generally accepted.
Grammar had been hammered into my brain many decades ago, since English is my second foreign language and our lessons were intense, and I am reasonably certain that I would currentlty flunk a test if I were given one to take. Since I am not likely to be tested in this manner ever again, I allow myself some personal touches along with the ‘generally accepted’ way of constructing a sentence.
It seems grammar gets into our subconscious, so we can write without thinking about the rules as we write.
It is remarkably American that we don’t have an official, i.e. government body, to manage grammar. We equate the inevitable chaos with freedom.
and to make matters even more confusing, all the great writers break the rules with their intentional sentence fragments and one-word sentences.
I like your comment, Monique. Especially “allow myself some personal touches”, makes me smile! Thanks for sharing.
Using the “write” word to express clearly and fully thought and intention is essential to me. Grammar I do my best to respect but as in French, don’ t ask me to explain any of it. Grammar to me is like a third language I never mastered. So when someone explains grammar, I nod my head in approval and smile, wishing myself good luck.
I agree. I cannot name the grammar rules, or even recognize most of them when I write. Nouns, verbs, adjectives, pronouns, adverbs, and conjunctions are about as good as it gets. Now I know about split infinitives. I admire you for writing in English as a second language. I wished I had learned more French from my grandmother, who immigrated from France.
I agree with Kit. Calling grammar a third language is perfect. I know the rules but it must be all locked in my unconscious, perhaps forcefully embedded there by the nuns in grade school.
Thierry, ” …a third language I never mastered” That’s perfect. Love the photo!
One of the local writing groups I belong to goes to great lengths to correct grammar in our stories. I am amazed by their ability to identify and explain grammatical errors in such detail. At first, I felt intimidated, but now I realize they are not being critical. They like to find the errors and discuss them amongst themselves. I use Grammarly and Pro Writing to correct my grammar mistakes.
Grammarly is irritating to me. It doesn’t like the way I structure sentences. Especially if I want to start with “I feel” or “I believe”. I remember my third-grade English teacher telling me those phrases made my sentences sound weak.
I agree that Grammarly and Pro Writing are irritating. I don’t take all their suggestions, because they don’t know what meaning I am trying to get across.
Nancy, sounds like the intimidation is waning, a bit. I also use those tools. I find the explanations in the Pro Writing aid helpful, but sometimes the rules are obtuse! 😉
I agree. I copy some of my stories into the Pro Writing App when I have finished my edits already. It still finds some problems. I take some of their suggestions but not all.