A former colleague sent me a link to Grammar Rules You Should Break in Business by Steve Yastrow. I agree with some of Yastrow’s suggestions and disagree with others.
I agree that language evolves, but as a ruthless editor, I would use that, not which in this introductory statement: A language works according to a shared set of understood rules that (not which) change over time as language evolves.
The reason: Using ‘which’ and a comma indicates that what follows is not integral to the meaning of a sentence. In both of these cases, what follows is indeed an important element.
But I ask: If using me and her as subjects is unacceptable in a work setting, why get into the habit of using that speech pattern with friends? Does either “She and I went to the concert” or “Erin and I went to the concert” sound too stuffy, too proper to your friends?
If so, maybe you need to expand your social connections.
Just between you and I, me and him can’t go to the movie.
The correct construction is: Just between you and me, he and I can’t go to the movie.
I again ask: If you shouldn’t utter such an ungrammatical statement at work, why would you say it among friends?
Yes, there are times a statement sounds better with a split infinitive. The first three of these five examples support Zastrow’s claim.
Prepositions are words that often indicate when, where and how something happens. Many grammar enthusiasts believe that you should not end a sentence with a preposition (or leave it dangling, as Zastrow describes).
Who are you going to the airport with?
Who’s going with you to the airport?
Here are Zastrow examples that end with a preposition and my suggestion for rephrasing each to achieve grammatical integrity.
Where are you going to? | Where are you going?
Where are you coming from? | You’re coming from where?
What are you thinking about? | What are your thoughts?
It’s not the end of the world if you occasionally leave a preposition dangling at the end of a sentence. Even I might ask, “What’s the story about?” Spoken grammar often is more casual than written grammar.
With our evolving heightened gender sensitivity, some sources claim it’s now grammatically OK to substitute they, even though they is plural and your customer is singular.
When your customers express a need, it is important to show that you know what they want.
Chapter 16 of my book provides multiple other examples, as does this blog.
Although Zastrow concludes, “Yes, you can now ask a singular customer what they want,” here’s my take: Just because some sources now say you can use a mismatched noun and pronoun doesn’t mean your should.
Try rewriting the sentence. Your customer might appreciate knowing that you have a mastery of grammar and don’t take shortcuts.
Both my blog and my book offer numerous examples of what to — and what not to — capitalize.
Standard English reflects the way educated people speak and write. If you take liberties with words and punctuation, or if you get creative with made-up words, you might experience less-than-optimal consequences.
Care about how you’re judged at work — and beyond? Follow my blog or buy my book. Both will help you decide which grammar guidelines are firm and which are flexible.
This entry was posted in Grammar Tips and tagged capitalization, grammar, job communication skills, punctuation, right vs wrong words on January 9, 2018 by Kathy Watson.
I agree the best course is to stick with Standard English. You might think not doing so is clever and creative —ften it is not.
Charles, I agree. What one person thinks is clever might seem anything but clever to someone else.