English Grammar Tips for Plain English Writing

“It is well to remember that grammar is common speech formulated. Usage is the only test. I would prefer a phrase that was easy and unaffected to a phrase that was grammatical.”

W. Somerset Maugham

For many of us, learning how to write involved learning about grammar. StyleWriter Software does not concentrate on grammar as the key to good writing. This is not to say that grammar is not important – it is. Obviously, good writing reflects the accepted structure of the English language. However, writing can be grammatically correct but difficult to read. Similarly, readable writing may have grammatical errors but still gets its message across.

Keeping to the principles of good writing will serve you and your readers better than trying to remember all the “rules” of grammar. In fact, by following our advice, you will find using correct grammar becomes easier. For example, if you keep your average sentence length low and use active verbs, you are less likely to make grammatical errors.

The ‘Rools’ of Grammar

Harold Evans, a former editor of The Times, listed the most common errors in grammar. Each ‘rool’ contains the error it mentions.

1. Don’t use no double negative.
2. Make each pronoun agree with their antecedent.
3. When dangling, watch your participles.
4. Don’t use commas, which aren’t necessary.
5. Verbs has to agree with their subjects.
6. About those sentence fragments…
7. Try not to ever split infinitives.
8. Its important to use apostrophe’s correctly.
9. Always read what you have written to see if you have any words out.

10. Correct spelling is esential.

StyleWriter will not pick up all these problems (if you need grammar checking & correction software, white smoke grarmmar checker will be suitable), so you need to read your writing through to check that it is correct.

False Rules of Grammar

Despite debunking by many writing authorities, some people still stick to grammar “rules” that have no sound basis. These include:

• not starting a sentence with And or But
• not ending a sentence with a preposition [up with I will not put.]
• splitting an infinitive [to boldly go, to thoroughly check]

Although there is nothing wrong with breaking any of these “rules”, doing so can upset some people so think about your reader. StyleWriter picks up split infinitives and advises you not to split if possible. However, if avoiding a split infinitive makes your writing sound odd, leave it in. You can delete the split infinitive pattern if you don’t want StyleWriter to highlight them in your writing.