Whether you’re new to writing or an old hand, there’s a relationship you’re going to learn to love and respect: the bond between a writer and an editor. And while there are times of inevitable disagreement, most writers learn to rely on their editors to ensure that their work is as succinct and readable as possible.
But, like all relationships, it’s a two-way thing. And while we writers spend hours carefully crafting our text, our editors often wish that we spent just a little more time picking up the writing quirks that can often send them round the bend.
So, in the spirit of reciprocity, we’re going to share the common grammar myths that editors wish you knew.
Ready? Let’s go!
What is grammar, anyway?
Grammar is a set of rules that define the structure and system of a language, effectively determining how words relate to each other. You could say grammar consists of:
- Syntax: the way we arrange words and phrases to construct well-formed sentences.
- Morphology: the study of words and how they relate to each other.
- Phonology: the exploration of spoken sounds and how they vary in proximity to other words, syllables, and sentences.
- Semantics: the study of linguistic meaning, examining how the full meaning of a complex expression is reliant on its constituent parts.
However, it’s easy to drill yourself into a wormhole when considering grammar and its importance. And while there are specific rules that are good to know, not every piece that you write requires slavish dedication to the letter of the law (note: slavish, not Slavish—the capital letter makes the same word refer to a person of a Slavic state; semantics, don’t you know).
How close to stick to strict grammatical norms often depends on who your words are intended for (ending a clause with a proposition, there).
What is the house style?
Before you tie yourself up in knots, have a chat with your editor. Find out about the house style—do they use American English or British English; do they favor long, academic sentences or short, concise language that’s easy to scan; who is the intended consumer of your words?
It’s essential to understand house style because not every publication wants stuffy, “correctly” structured language. Because often “correct” is based on outdated rules that are largely obsolete in the modern world.
For example, this article is written in a conversational style. The intention is for it to feel like a friend advising another friend, with a tone that is friendly.
So, let’s explore some of the common grammar myths that could do with some demystifying (not de-mistifying—that’s a different thing altogether).
1. Never split an infinitive
To go boldly where no man has gone before.
It just doesn’t feel right, does it? But actually, “to go” is the infinitive, so an adverb in the middle of the infinitive splits it.
But here’s the thing: as long as the meaning is clear, it doesn’t really matter. Older style guides might advise against it, but modern writing styles aren’t quite so stiff. So, to boldly go is generally acceptable, and you might say that splitting the infinitive improves the clarity of the sentence.
The key here is to avoid awkward phrasing (or should that be “phrasing that is awkward?”).
Ultimately, with this (and all the) tips, consider whether you stumble over the words when you read them out loud. If you stumble, then unsplit your infinitive. Or if it’s unclear what the adverb relates to, clarify it.
Historical context of splitting infinitives
The belief that it’s wrong to split an infinitive is, in theory, wrong, and based on a misunderstanding of Latin (which nobody speaks).
In Latin and Latin-based languages, the infinitive is a single word. In Spanish, to go is “ir”; in French, to go is “aller.” But English infinitives are typically two words (to go, to listen, to read), so splitting the infinitive is not a grammatical error in the same way.
2. A long sentence is better than a short one
If it were possible to turn the Family Fortunes klaxon into words, you would have just heard it.
Because a long sentence isn’t necessarily better than a short one.
While one languishes in the complex network of clauses in academic writing, for less formal forms, short can be better.
If you’re writing for the web, use short sentences. If you’re writing a pacy chase sequence in a thriller, use short sentences. They feel more immediate, allowing the energy to lift off the page.
Of course, choosing whether to write a long sentence or a short one is about context and the ease with which you hope your reader might understand your meaning (which is a long, rather formal sentence, isn’t it)?
3. Ending a sentence with a preposition
This is another outdated myth that has remarkable staying power, ultimately coming down to personal preference at the end of the day.
What is a preposition?
Prepositions are words that tell us where or when something shows a relationship between a noun or pronoun in the context of other words in a sentence. They usually indicate time, direction, or other connections.
These magical words typically precede a noun, pronoun, or noun phrase.
For example:
What did you call me for? might not be the most beautifully constructed phrase, but it’s easy to understand. It follows the pattern of speech.
For what did you call? might be more grammatically “correct,” but it feels stilted and stuffy.
It’s good to avoid ending a sentence with a preposition if it feels awkward or clunky, but otherwise, it’s generally acceptable.
Examples of prepositions include:
- Location: in, at, under, beside, on, above, behind, in front of.
- Time: on, at, before, after, during, until, in.
- Direction: to, from, across, through, toward.
- Other relationships: of, with, by, for, about.
Some examples of prepositions ending sentences (and their “correct” alternatives):
- What are you thinking about? Vs. About what are you thinking?
- Where have you come from? Vs. From where have you come?
- What’s your lecture on? Vs. About what is your lecture?
If you’re writing formal text, then stick with the general rule. But if you’re writing conversational content or dialogue, don’t worry about it too much.
4. Starting a sentence with a preposition
What is it with prepositions? Why are some people so fascistic when it comes to where they’re allowed to reside within a sentence?
Indeed, there’s a school of thought that believes that it’s clumsy or lazy to begin a sentence with a preposition. Or to start a sentence with “or” or “and” or “because” or “but.”
Of course, it’s down to individual house styles, but most modern editors will not castigate you for breaking these archaic rules. Because language evolves; don’t get left behind.
5. My word processor will correct my grammar
To a degree, this is correct. Yes, a word processor is often able to spot glaring grammatical errors. However, no in-built word or grammar checker is foolproof, and most are incapable of nuance.
Often, the suggestions are incorrect in the context of the sentence.
However, not all is lost. Dedicated apps, like Grammarly, are much more proficient in spotting incorrect and clumsy grammar but you should never rely on it as your only resource.
6. Using words incorrectly
There are several commonly misused words in the English language likely to send an editor to an early grave.
Some of the most common (and frustrating) are:
Effect vs. affect
Affect is the verb—to affect (or to influence), while effect is a noun, meaning the outcome.
So, something doesn’t have the desired affect (it’s the desired effect), and one thing doesn’t effect the other; it affects it.
- The new policy will effect a significant change. No, this should be affect because the policy will influence change.
- The medicine’s affect on my sleep was immediate. No, this is talking about the outcome of taking the drug, so it should be effect.
Principal vs. principle
A “Principal” is either a role (i.e., the school principal) or a significant part of something:
- The Principal called the school to the hall.
- A song’s chorus often contains its principal hook.
On the other hand, a “principle” is a rule or belief:
- It goes against my principles.
Complement vs. compliment
To complement something is to complete or enhance it. However, a compliment is something you say to make someone else feel good about themselves.
So, you can complement something by adding to it, and compliment someone by telling them they look nice.
Accept vs. except
Accepting something means that you agree with it, while except means to exclude something.
Homophones
These are words that sound the same but mean different things, and they’re some of the most incorrectly used words in the English language
- They’re/their/there: They’re is a contraction of “they are”, which is why there’s an apostrophe. Their indicates possession, and there refers to a location.
- It’s/Its: The apostrophe tells us that it’s is a contraction of it is (e.g., it’s a nice day = it is a nice day). However, its is a possessive pronoun (e.g., This is my house, and this is its door.)
7. Run-on sentences
OMG. The run-on sentence is like fingernails down a chalkboard when marking student work. However, just for clarity, a run-on sentence isn’t a long sentence. A run-on sentence is where you conjoin two unrelated clauses together, like this:
I’ll have a coffee I like this one.
AGHHH!!!
I mark many play scripts throughout the year, and I find it continually baffling that writing students fail to recognize where one sentence ends and another begins. In terms of dialogue, every sentence is an action, so by conjoining unrelated clauses, they’re dampening the action’s impact.
I’ll have a coffee. I like this one.
It’s two sentences. And it’s doing two different things.
Every sentence of dialogue is an action
Say, for example, Character A wants Character B to go away.
- You don’t want to be late. (I remind you).
- I’ll have a coffee. (I ignore you). I like this one (I challenge you).
The second sentence reinforces the action of the first. It builds tension, defying the objective of Character A more powerfully than just the one sentence alone.
When we speak, we naturally speak in sentences, so writing dialogue should be about the rhythm of speech; otherwise, we’re missing the rhythmic beauty of language altogether.
8. The grocer’s apostrophe
The irony that the title “The grocer’s apostrophe” requires an apostrophe in the right place isn’t lost to me. But, the apostrophe is the Achilles’ heel (not to be confused with the Achilles heel, which is a tendon) of many a writer (and non-writer), and certainly the bane of many editors’ lives.
CHIP’S — $2.50
TOMATO’S — $1 a kilo
An apostrophe does a couple of things, but it rarely pluralizes a noun. You have one chip or two chips. Not two chip’s. This is the incorrect use of the apostrophe.
The purpose of the apostrophe
This tricksy piece of punctuation is simple. You use an apostrophe to:
- Indicate possession: Those are John’s keys—the keys are the possession and they belong to John.
- Form contractions: The apostrophe indicates letters are missing when we combine two words into one (e.g., can’t = cannot; it’s = it is, and they’re = they are).
Apostrophes for nouns ending in “s”
One of the most baffling of the apostrophes are those that relate to nouns that already end in “s”.
Those are James’s keys.
You might have been taught that the correct form here is:—Those are James’ keys. But that isn’t correct. However awkward it might feel to say or read, in this context, James’s is correct (although you would get away with James’ in some settings).
Apostrophes for plural nouns ending in “s”
You place an apostrophe after an “s”-ending noun when it’s already pluralized. For example, the word girls is a pluralized noun (girl being one, girls being many).
If the keys belonged to that (singular) girl over there, it would be: Those are that girl’s keys.
But:
If the keys belonged to a group of girls, it would be: Those are the girls’ keys. This indicates that the keys (the possession) belong to the group of girls.
9. Incorrect comma use
The comma, like the apostrophe, is both neglected and misused. Commas are used to separate parts of a sentence, which makes it easier to understand and read.
In brief, you use a comma to:
- Separate items in a list: I need tables, chairs, and apples.
- Join independent clauses with a coordinating conjunction: The theater show was interesting, but it was LONG.
- Separating introductory phrases, words, or clauses: Before he could make tea, he had to go to the shops.
- Separating non-essential information: I had left my book, which I’d only just started reading, on the bus seat.
- Separating adjectives: The noisy, rambunctious teenager was incapable of keeping a secret.
- Directly addressing somebody (or a character) by name: Hi, Sarah. How are you?
The Oxford comma
We couldn’t explore commas without mentioning the Oxford comma.
At school, most of us were taught that you never use a comma before the word “and.” So, a list might read: John picked up his books, keys and phone.
Leaving the Oxford comma out unnaturally conjoins the last two items together, and they might not be related.
An Oxford comma is used in a list with three or more items, and it is used before “and.” So, the list would read: John picked up his books, keys, and phone.
Much clearer, and considered correct enough to be included in this list of grammar peeves.
10. How the heck do you use a colon?
The world would be a simpler place if more people knew how to use colons.
You can use colons in several ways: to introduce lists, quotations, additional pertinent (directly related) information, and separate closely related clauses.
The colon can be used to replace “and these are.”
I have three favorite foods, and these are chips, sandwiches, and caviar.
You could use a colon to introduce the list more succinctly:
I have three favorite foods: chips, sandwiches, and caviar.
You can also use a colon to add additional relevant information:
I love EDM: my favorite DJ is Fat Boy Slim.
I’m going to the library tomorrow: I need a new book to read.
11. And how the flip do you use a semicolon?
You use the humble semicolon to conjoin closely connected ideas together into a single sentence. But you can also use it to break up a list that contains additional phrases.
Connecting ideas
You might write:
Andy had spent two hours in the queue. He wasn’t going to leave without that autograph.
But that sentence could connect the two ideas more concisely as:
Andy had spent two hours in the queue; he wasn’t leaving without that autograph.
You can use a semicolon instead of a coordinating conjunction: and or but. So, you could have written: Andy had spent two hours in the queue, but he wasn’t going to leave without that autograph.
But the semicolon makes it more succinct.
Additionally, you could use a semicolon instead of a conjunctive adverb, such as: however, instead, therefore, meanwhile, consequently, accordingly, also.
I.e., Andy had spent two hours in the queue. However, he wasn’t going to leave without that autograph.
Breaking up a list
You might write:
When I go to the cafe, I need to remember my laptop, charger, and headphones.
But a list might have more detail:
When I go to the cafe, I need to remember my laptop so I can write; my charger in case my battery dies; and my headphones to block out distractions.
12. My editor will do it for me
This is one of the myths that drives most editors to distraction: the expectation that it’s the editor’s job to fix a first draft.
While editors play an essential role in improving the words on the page, they are not responsible for correcting every aspect of a piece.
Effectively, writers “own” the words, so we need to take ownership and strive for clarity and accuracy of our own accord. The onus is often on the writer to approve or reject whatever comments are made in a document’s Tracked Changes.
Relay Publishing wants to hear from you
Thanks for reading our top tips about grammar myths editors wish you knew. We aim to help you become a better writer. Because developing a great relationship with an editor is a great way to get your work out into the world.
So, if you’re a budding writer, we want to hear from you. We’re always on the lookout for new collaborations with writers, editors, and designers.
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