Is it “I couldn’t care less” or “I could care less,” and does the difference matter? The question isn’t as straightforward as it seems.
Articles Tagged grammar and usage
Grammar Bite: Misplaced Modifiers
A modifier is a word or phrase that qualifies a noun or verb. Modifiers should be placed next to the words or phrases they modify. Simple, right? Not quite.
That Which Has a Tail
“That” and “which” may seem interchangeable, but there’s a difference between the two words, and it’s more important than you might think.
Who vs. Whom and Other Writing Bugaboos
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?
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.
