Grammar misconceptions
1. You CAN split an infinitive.
To boldly go where no man has gone before
...is fine. Some argue that because the infinitive form of a verb is a single word in Latin, but is two words in English (to go) you should not put anything between those two words. No authority for 200 years has agreed with this argument, although some suggest that it is more elegant to avoid splitting the infinitive. Best of all find a more expressive verb than go, and that way you can do without the boldly and avoid the issue altogether.
2. You CAN start a sentence with and or but. Shakespeare did it, so why not you?
But soft! What light through yonder window breaks?
3. You CAN end a sentence with a preposition. Prepositions include with, for, to, after. Some argue (wrongly) that they are used to join nouns and so they cannot come at the end of a sentence. Occasionally it can be more elegant to avoid ending with a preposition, but usually you just end up with pompous or old-fashioned writing.
The things we have to put up with.
The things up with which we have to put.
To boldly go where no man has gone before
...is fine. Some argue that because the infinitive form of a verb is a single word in Latin, but is two words in English (to go) you should not put anything between those two words. No authority for 200 years has agreed with this argument, although some suggest that it is more elegant to avoid splitting the infinitive. Best of all find a more expressive verb than go, and that way you can do without the boldly and avoid the issue altogether.
2. You CAN start a sentence with and or but. Shakespeare did it, so why not you?
But soft! What light through yonder window breaks?
3. You CAN end a sentence with a preposition. Prepositions include with, for, to, after. Some argue (wrongly) that they are used to join nouns and so they cannot come at the end of a sentence. Occasionally it can be more elegant to avoid ending with a preposition, but usually you just end up with pompous or old-fashioned writing.
The things we have to put up with.
The things up with which we have to put.
Labels: Writing tips
