False tales from English teachers
- Don't use first person. Absurd rule. First person is useful when the writer has been an eyewitness to an event. It is useful when writers want to make perfectly clear that the ideas and positions expressed in the writing are theirs. First person creates a conversational voice that may make the writing more dynamic and interesting.
However, using first person makes the writer "visible" to the reader. It emphases the writer and may obscure the content. Avoid using first person when the content matters more than the writer.- Never use a sentence fragment.
Well, sure you can. If the context is clear, fragments can add emphasis, energy, and contrast and move the reader forward quickly through the text. What you want to avoid is a phrase that confuses the reader because it is complete.- Don't split infinitives.
What is an infinitive anyway? It is a verb preceded by "to" as in "to run" or "to understand". Splitting an infinitive means to insert a word of phrase between "to" and the verb. For example "to quickly run" or " to better understand". Writers may split infinitives to improve clarity or rhythm of a sentence. But don't split unless it serves a purpose, or the reader may perceive you as a sloppy writer.- Don't end a sentence with a preposition.
At, by, for, into, off, on, out, under, up, with are all words that show position, and are used to connect nouns or pronouns in prepositional phrases. Prepositional phrases are used to modify verbs other elements in a sentence. Usually you want to place a modifying phrase before or near what it modifies. A proposition at the end of a sentence may leave the reader wondering. For example, you would confuse the reader if you wrote, "The boy hid under." You could write, "That is the bush the boy hid under.", but the grammar police would ask you to write "That is the bush under which the boy hid.", and you would end up sounding like a very stuffy person indeed. Pick the structure that sounds best.- Don't start a sentence with 'And' or 'But' or any other conjunction.
Sometimes you want to connect two sentences and these words will do the trick. But don't over do it.- Avoid contractions.
This is a good rule for formal writing, but is foolish when taken to extremes. In less formal writing formats, using contractions may add conversational, ordinary tone to the style.- Never use a double negative.
Well, occasionally might actually be correct. Avoid phrases such as 'I don't have none.' and ' You never take me no where', but consider the usefulness of 'I wouldn't say the dress was unattractive' Or 'We never found the hotel staff to be discourteous.'by Debra Stevens, University of Montana Communications Department