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SOLECISMS OF MECHANICS AND GRAMMAR
From Scott:
I may be an English teacher, but I find many rules of grammar and mechanics to be both annoying and absurd. Take splitting infinitives, for example. If I split an infinitive around some of my collegues, I face indrawn breaths and gasps which remind me of that jam commercial where the Texan asks for the jelly. How ridiculous. I respond with a laugh and an explaination of their own mistake, supported by the extensive research I did once just to prove my point (it also made a nice paper for the History of the English Language class which I was taking at the time). If I split an infinitive around a student, or at least one who reads his or her grammar books, I face zealous correction and self-satisfied high-horsedness. The purpose of language is to communicate, rather than prescribe to rules and standards. Many of the rules and standards of grammar were developed at a time when the language was spoken in a more stilted manner which required a certain amount of formality to maintain its expressiveness. Moreso, though, rules were either created or sternly upheld by those insecure, upper-class intellectuals who insisted upon them to prove their education over of that of the lower elements. This is what really angers me about the fervor and condescention with which many of these rules are prescribed. Language, especailly the wonderfully expressive English language, is not intended to bolster the insecurities of some schmarmy 'cultured' high-income pseudo-intellectual. It is intended to communicate, in whatever base form may be necessary (and guess what else--I drink red wine with fish!)
Below is a list of some of these silly rules, with links which will take you to detailed explainations of the rule, its incorrectness, an explaination of the whys and precedents for its non-usage, and comments by contributors.
One Must Never Split an Infinitive.
One Must Never End a Sentence in a Prespotion.
One Must Never Use the Word ain't
MISTAKES, FALLACIES, AND IRRESPONSIBILITIES OF PRESCRIPTIVE GRAMMAR (Author: Scott Kapel)
THIS AREA STILL BEING COMPLETED! PLEASE CONTRIBUTE ANYTHING YOU HAVE.
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