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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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Webster's Dictionary of 1864

 

The landmark edition that transformed the way dictionaries are made.

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Alright vs. All Right

 

Is 'alright' all right?

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Drive Safe: In Praise of Flat Adverbs

 

You don't have to end all your adverbs in -ly to talk right.

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Why is there a 'd' in 'fridge' but not in 'refrigerator'?

 

Thawing one of the mysteries of English

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Sneaked vs. Snuck

 

How the irregular 'snuck' sneaked into the dictionary

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Fun, Funner, Funnest

 

Why does it sound strange to say 'funner' or 'funnest?'