Articles Tagged zombie rules

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.

“Don’t start a sentence with ‘and’ or ‘but,'” we’re told. But no one updates that rule when our skills grow. Let’s fix that.

We’ve been taught not to start sentences with “however.” Why you can dismiss that rule.

The singular “they” zombie has been shuffling along for centuries. It’s time it bit the dust for good.

Have you been told that you can’t use “between” when talking about more than two items? That’s a zombie rule. Let’s rewrite it.

Why it’s OK to use “since” to mean “because” and when you should avoid it.

We learn a lot of grammar and writing rules in school, but not all rules are equal. Some are members of the undead.