The more you write, the more likely you are to find that the English language is a maze of grammar rules and pseudo-rules. In order to help you sort out what’s what, I’ve consulted a few resources for the answers to four of the most common sources of confusion.
1. You Can’t End a Sentence with a Preposition
Actually, you can. In fact, experts recommend leaving the preposition at the end of the sentence if placing it anywhere else will make your writing awkward.
They also state that ending a sentence with a preposition can give your writing a conversational feel. Since sounding conversational generally aids communication, feel free to use this tactic. The only time I’d avoid it is when writing “formal” material.
2. Don’t Split Infinitives
The most famous split infinitive is probably “To boldly go where no one has gone before” from Star Trek. You could change it to “To go boldly where no one has gone before,” but it doesn’t have the same flair, does it?
In the past, “refined” English speakers didn’t want to split infinitives because infinitives were never split in Latin (the foundation of refined English). The thing is, Latin infinitives are single words (e.g., disserere = to discuss), so, of course, you can’t split them.
Many experts now feel that splitting infinitives isn’t bad grammar, it’s just bad style. However, the authors of Elements of Style advise readers to split the infinitive if it will keep sentences from sounding awkward or stuffy. If you do want to sound formal, rewrite your sentence.
3. Don’t Begin a Sentence with And or But
The general guidelines for the previous two “rules” apply here as well. Starting a sentence with a conjunction not only provides you with an easy transition, but also allows you to control where you place your emphasis.
E.g., compare “This is a great deal. But you have to act now” to “This is a great deal, but you have to act now.”
Use the Article An with Words That Begin with Vowels
Actually, you should use an with words that begin with vowel sounds. You’d write “a hotel” but “an hour” because the second word begins with a vowel sound. For the same reason, you’d write “a one-time event” but “an overbearing boss.”
It’s when you encounter different dialects that there can be trouble. E.g., people who pronounce herb with the “h” sound will use a before it, but others who drop the “h” are perfectly right to use an. If your organization uses a particular dictionary, consult it to see the favored pronunciation of the word in question. If the dictionary lists multiple ways to pronounce the word, the most common or accepted way is usually listed first.
Even if you can’t keep all the rules and guidelines straight, you can polish your text easily if you read it aloud. Imagine you’re in a conversational or formal setting as you read, and you’ll able to fine-tune your text appropriately.
