Divisive Grammar Rules

I feel like any communications professional I’ve ever talked to has at least one grammatical hill they’re willing to die on. Some are based on concrete style guide rules, some based only on personal opinion. Let’s talk about three of the most popular divisive grammar rules:

Oxford comma

Don’t worry about sounding professional. Sound like you. There are over 1.5 billion websites out there, but your story is what’s going to separate this one from the rest. If you read the words back and don’t hear your own voice in your head, that’s a good sign you still have more work to do.You either love her or hate her. In the grammar world, the Oxford comma will always win the superlative for “Most Divisive Punctuation”. AP Style truthers will argue that omitting the Oxford comma makes writing more efficient, without sacrificing any clarity. Oxford comma enthusiasts insist that it is a necessary punctuation mark to ensure clarity above all else. 

So, how did the final serial comma in a list of items become such a controversial writing addition? Horace Hart is to blame – when, in 1905, he updated the Oxford University Press style guide to require the use of the final comma in a series of items. Since the university’s style guide was widely available to the public, it became common to begin including what was then dubbed the ‘Oxford comma’ in your writing. The Oxford comma is still deemed required in most style guides today, such as Chicago, MLA, and APA. It is however incorrect to include this specific comma per the AP style guide, which is what most news publications follow. 

Outside of various official style guides making a ruling about the Oxford comma, many companies and organizations will form their own specific brand guidelines around including (or omitting) the comma. The main thing regarding any form of style guide is consistency. 

Official Neat Media House ruling: the Oxford comma is very much encouraged.

Ending a sentence with a preposition

Unless you were a star student in English class in school, it’s likely that you don’t remember exactly what a preposition is. Only that you may have been told that it’s improper English to ever end a sentence with a preposition. 

A preposition is a part of speech that’s used to show relationships between words in a sentence. Above, after, across, between, in, at, during, and through are all examples of common prepositions. 

Despite what old-school grammar teachers may have led you to believe, it’s not always incorrect if your sentence ends in a preposition. There are certainly cases where it doesn’t make sense to end a sentence with one, but there are plenty of cases where it is perfectly acceptable. 

For instance, when writing or speaking informally, it would seem very out of place to say, “About what are you talking?” It flows much more naturally to phrase that question as “What are you talking about?” 

There doesn’t even seem to be a definitive reason this grammar “rule” is so engrained in people’s minds – it was never added to any official writing style guide. Though, it is a good rule of thumb to avoid ending a sentence with a preposition. 

Official Neat Media House ruling: just write your sentences in the way that makes the most sense.

Starting a sentence with ‘and’ or ‘but’

Conjunction junction, what’s your function? Lots, but occasionally, starting sentences. Some believe that starting a sentence with a conjunction (and, but, etc.) to be a grievous offence. But sometimes it just makes sense. 

This “rule” is likely followed since a paragraph with too many sentences beginning with conjunctions reads as juvenile. While this is true, sometimes sentences just flow better and sound more natural if the occasional conjunction begins a sentence. Though it is certainly more formal to never begin a sentence with a conjunction. 

Official Neat Media House ruling: write what feels right.

Like with most grammar rules, the overarching rule is that it just depends. Use an Oxford comma if that’s what you prefer, or if it is necessary to ensure clarity. End a sentence with a preposition if that’s what makes the most sense. Sprinkle in sentences beginning with conjunctions. Just be willing to argue your stance on your opinions.