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Usage Notes

Old-School Grammar

Many of today's grammar rules can be traced to the opinions of one 18th century writer.


Many of today's grammar rules can be traced to the opinions of one 18th century writer.

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play video old school grammar humorsome
Old-School Grammar

 

Many of today's grammar rules can be traced to the opinions of one 18th century writer.

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Lay vs. Lie

 

Editor Emily Brewster clarifies the difference.

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'One in the same' or 'One and the same'?

 

Is it all the same anyway?

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How a Ghost Word Appeared in the Dictionary

 

An imaginary word that snuck into the dictionary

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Hot Mess

 

Our research turned up two archaic literal meanings

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How to Remember 'Affect' and 'Effect'

 

A simple way to keep them apart. (Most of the time.)

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Is It 'Attorney Generals' Or 'Attorneys General'?

 

'Poets laureate'? 'Court-martials'? The curious history of postpositive adjectives in English.