Every writer has them: little points of grammar they can never remember. Is it who or whom? When is effect the right word? Is it i.e. or e.g., and what do they stand for anyway?
Articles Categorized Grammar & Usage
Grammar Bite: Correlative Conjunctions
“Correlative conjunction” is the grammarian’s fancy term for a pair of conjunctions that join two matching sentence parts, such as “not only…but also” and “both…and”. The trick with these conjunctions is the sentence parts they join must be structured the same way.
A Most Important(ly) Lesson
I have a confession to make: I made a reflexive edit in a manuscript based on personal preference. Worse, I then boasted about it online.
Adverb Placement, Generally and Specifically
Adverbs are usually placed next to the thing they modify. But what do you do when the result is awkward?
Grammar Bite: Snuggling Up to “Only”
“Only” is a delightful little word that can act as an adjective or an adverb; it can modify nouns, verbs, and even other adjectives. Where you place it makes a big impact. Here’s how to do it well.
In Defense of Jargon
Jargon is often criticized as meaningless and opaque. That’s blaming the tool instead of the user.
Rewriting the Zombies: Split Infinitives
Boldly go where grammar peevers don’t want you to go! Splitting verb phrases and infinite verbs is perfectly grammatical in English.
Rewriting the Zombies: “Hopefully”
Don’t start a sentence with “hopefully”? Hopefully, you’ll read this article and learn why you can.
Rewriting the Zombies: “None”
A few grammar peevers will insist that “none” means “not one” and must take a singular verb. But there’s more to the story.
Agreeing to Disagree: Why We Use “Notional” Agreement
Why can “none” take a singular or plural verb? Because of a little thing called notional agreement.
