Yes, I'm one of those folks shocked to learn that split infinitives do not constitute a grammatical weapon of mass destruction. I'm also coming to grips with the fact that my zealous distaste for passive voice might be a little . . . excessive. And the notion that untamed adverbs are evil all the time? Well, maybe not always. That said, I continue to critique prose that wilts from indecision or general sloppiness, and I often find the cause of these problems nested among these two latter sins.
Yet I could not help but be impressed with Geoffrey K. Pullum's hurl of vitriol upon one inspiration for my notions of compositional correctness: The Elements of Style. Published (commercially) 50 years ago this week, Elements has long marked a safe recommendation for students seeking to improve their writing. The book earns at least a thoughtful head-nod among self-styled writing experts. We've all heard of Elements. Some of us have even read it!
But few have torn into the book with Pullum's fury.
Read on: 50 Years of Stupid Grammar Advice
1 comment:
I'm in the process of starting a social experiment via the web, and am in need of someone that can write really well. The details of the project is laid out on my website at www.accreation.org. I'm looking for someone that can edit the content in a more easily understandable format. Please visit the site, and contact me if you or someone you know might be interested in participating in the project. Thank you.
PS. This is NOT a paid position; I'm looking for like minded individuals who are interested in making this prjoect become a success. Thank you.
Post a Comment