Buzz
In 1762, Bishop Robert Lowth did the English language a disservice with the publication of his *Short Introduction to English Grammar*. Instead of aligning his rules with the usage of the most educated English speakers and writers, he mistakenly based them on Latin grammar. As a result, many current English rules, particularly in Standard Written English, are founded on these incorrect principles.
These misguided rules continue to haunt us, still serving as the foundation for many modern English curricula. So, with this list, my goal is to finally debunk these outdated rules. [Did you catch that?]
10. Between is only for two items
The ‘tween’ part of ‘between’ refers to the number 2, but according to the Oxford English Dictionary, the word has always been used in reference to more than two. Some grammar purists insist on using ‘among’ for groups larger than two. However, even the most meticulous speakers don’t naturally say, ‘A treaty has been negotiated among England, France, and Germany.’
9. Till versus ’til
The use of ’til may seem like an abbreviation of ‘until,’ leading some people to believe it should always be written as ’til (with or without the apostrophe). However, ‘till’ has been a standard part of English for over 800 years, predating ’til. It is perfectly correct to say ‘till.’
8. Persuade versus convince
Some people wrongly assume that you must ‘persuade’ someone to ‘convince’ them, but in reality, ‘persuade’ and ‘convince’ are synonyms. This usage has been around since the 16th century. Both words can mean either the act of trying to convince or successfully convincing someone. While you might not commonly hear ‘I am persuaded that you are an idiot,’ it is still grammatically correct.
7. Healthy versus healthful
Although it's logical and traditional to differentiate between these two words, phrases like 'part of a healthy breakfast' have become so common that they can no longer be considered incorrect (unless you’re a stickler). Interestingly, in English, adjectives related to feelings or sensations (like ‘happy’) are often transferred to describe the object or event being observed, such as in ‘a happy coincidence’ or ‘a gloomy landscape.’
6. Off of
For many Americans, saying ‘Climb down off of [pronounced ‘offa’] that horse, Tex, with your hands in the air’ feels natural. However, many British English authorities argue that the ‘of’ is unnecessary and should be omitted. While British English may encourage dropping the ‘of,’ in American English, ‘off of’ is so widely used that it often goes unnoticed. That said, it’s still discouraged in formal writing. But if ‘onto’ sounds right, so does ‘off of.’ However, using ‘off of’ to mean ‘from’ (e.g., ‘borrow five dollars off of Clarice’) is definitely nonstandard.
It’s also quite common in New Zealand to use “off of,” likely due to the influence of English spoken in the British Empire at the time of New Zealand's founding.
5. None: singular or plural?
Some argue that because 'none' comes from 'no one,' it should always be singular, like in ‘none of us is having dessert.’ However, in everyday usage, 'none' is frequently treated as plural, so ‘none of us are having dessert’ is entirely acceptable. I once spent days debating this with my Ancient Greek tutor, who believed 'none' should always be singular, but neither of us could change the other’s mind. I personally believe it can be both singular and plural. ????!
4. Who and That
There are actually many cases where the traditional usage favors referring to a person as 'that' instead of 'who,' such as in the phrase ‘All the politicians that were at the party later denied even knowing the host.’ This structure is actually more established than ‘politicians who.’ This debate seems to stem from the politically correct notion that it’s somehow disrespectful to use ‘that’ for people. In some cases, ‘that’ is more appropriate: ‘She is the only person I know of that prefers whipped cream on her cereal.’ However, there are times when using ‘that’ would be absurd, such as: ‘Who was it that said, “A woman without a man is like a fish without a bicycle”?’
3. Split Infinitives
For those who are overly critical, the famous phrase 'to boldly go where no man has gone before' should instead be 'to go boldly...' It’s important to note that placing words between 'to' and a verb isn't technically a mistake, and can often sound more expressive and elegant than rearranging the words. However, because so many people are bothered by split infinitives, it’s usually better to avoid them unless the alternative feels forced or unnatural.
There are moments when using a split infinitive is clearly the better choice:
Murders are expected to more than double next year. (split infinitive) Murders are expected more than to double next year. (intact infinitive)
However, you could rephrase it as: 'Murders are expected to increase by more than double next year' – but there’s nothing wrong with using the split infinitive in the example above.
Source: *Common Errors in English Usage*
2. Sentence Ending in a Preposition
To please the more traditional grammarians, try to avoid ending sentences (and clauses) with prepositions like to, with, from, at, and in. For example, instead of saying ‘The topics we want to write on,’ where ‘on’ is at the end, you could say ‘The topics on which we want to write.’ Prepositions typically should be placed before the words they modify.
That said, if a sentence sounds more elegant with a final preposition, don’t feel the need to change it. For instance, ‘He gave the public what it longed for’ is clear and natural, even though it ends with a preposition. In contrast, ‘He gave the public that for which it longed’ avoids ending with a preposition but sounds unnecessarily awkward. Sentences filled with ‘from whoms’ and ‘with whiches’ become unnecessarily complex and unclear.
The well-known quip often attributed to Winston Churchill illustrates the point perfectly: 'This is the sort of English up with which I will not put.'
1. Sentence Starting with a Conjunction
It frustrates those who want to impose strict rules on English usage that writers frequently begin sentences with 'and' or 'but.' While it’s true that many such sentences could be more effective as parts of compound sentences, there are plenty of traditional and valid instances where starting a sentence this way works well. A good example comes from dialogue: 'But, my dear Watson, the criminal obviously wore expensive boots or he would not have gone to such lengths to clean them.' It’s wise to evaluate whether your conjunction would sound better joining ideas in the prior sentence or whether its placement at the start of a new sentence emphasizes the point more effectively.
