https://charlesreid1.com/w/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Fumblerules 2026-06-20T06:47:17Z Revision history for this page on the wiki MediaWiki 1.39.12 https://charlesreid1.com/w/index.php?title=Fumblerules&diff=13941&oldid=prev 2016-09-11T03:58:44Z

<p>Created page with &quot;William Saffire&#039;s Fumblerules for Writing: Original query/column: I am compiling &quot;Ten Perverse Rules of English Grammar.&quot; Thanks to Philip Henderson of Lawrence, Kan., I hav...&quot;</p> <p><b>New page</b></p><div>William Saffire&#039;s Fumblerules for Writing:<br /> <br /> Original query/column:<br /> <br /> I am compiling &quot;Ten Perverse Rules of English Grammar.&quot; Thanks to Philip Henderson of Lawrence, Kan., I have three. They are: (1) Remember to never split an infinitive. (2) A preposition is something never to end a sentence with. (3) The passive voice should never be used.<br /> <br /> 1. Avoid run-on sentences they are hard to read.<br /> <br /> 2. Don&#039;t use no double negatives.<br /> <br /> 3. Use the semicolon properly, always use it where it is appropriate; and never where it isn&#039;t.<br /> <br /> 4. Reserve the apostrophe for it&#039;s proper use and omit it when its not needed.<br /> <br /> 5. Do not put statements in the negative form.<br /> <br /> 6. Verbs has to agree with their subjects.<br /> <br /> 7. No sentence fragments.<br /> <br /> 8. Proofread carefully to see if you any words out.<br /> <br /> 9. Avoid commas, that are not necessary.<br /> <br /> 10. If you reread your work, you will find on rereading that a great deal of repetition can be avoided by rereading and editing.<br /> <br /> 11. A writer must not shift your point of view.<br /> <br /> 12. Eschew dialect, irregardless.<br /> <br /> 13. And don&#039;t start a sentence with a conjunction.<br /> <br /> 14. Don&#039;t overuse exclamation marks!!!<br /> <br /> 15. Place pronouns as close as possible, especially in long sentences, as of 10 or more words, to their antecedents.<br /> <br /> 16. Hyphenate between sy-<br /> <br /> 17. llables and avoid un-necessary hyphens.<br /> <br /> 18. Write all adverbial forms correct.<br /> <br /> 19. Don&#039;t use contractions in formal writing.<br /> <br /> 20. Writing carefully, dangling participles must be avoided.<br /> <br /> 21. It is incumbent on us to avoid archaisms.<br /> <br /> 22. If any word is improper at the end of a sentence, a linking verb is.<br /> <br /> 23. Steer clear of incorrect forms of verbs that have snuck in the language.<br /> <br /> 24. Take the bull by the hand and avoid mixed metaphors.<br /> <br /> 25. Avoid trendy locutions that sound flaky.<br /> <br /> 26. Never, ever use repetitive redundancies.<br /> <br /> 27. Everyone should be careful to use a singular pronoun with singular nouns in their writing.<br /> <br /> 28. If I&#039;ve told you once, I&#039;ve told you a thousand times, resist hyperbole.<br /> <br /> 29. Also, avoid awkward or affected alliteration.<br /> <br /> 30. Don&#039;t string too many prepositional phrases together unless you are walking through the valley of the shadow of death.<br /> <br /> 31. Always pick on the correct idiom.<br /> <br /> 32. &quot;Avoid overuse of &#039;quotation &quot;marks.&quot;&#039;&quot;<br /> <br /> 33. The adverb always follows the verb.<br /> <br /> 34. Last but not least, avoid cliches like the plague; seek viable alternatives.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Ref: http://alt-usage-english.org/humorousrules.html<br /> <br /> [[Category:Writing]]<br /> [[Category:Jokes]]</div>

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