Fractured
English
As
owner of the world's largest collection of "fumblerules" of
grammar,
William Safire, in his book On Language passes along a bunch of these never
say-neversms:
Don't
use no double negatives.
Verbs
has to agree with their subjects.
Proof
read carefully to see if you any words out.
If
any word is improper at the end of a sentence, a linking verb is.
Steer
clear of incorrect forms of verbs that have snuck in the language.
Take
the bull by the hand and avoid mixed metaphors.
Never,
ever use repetitive redundancies.
If
I've told you once, I've told you a thousand times, resist hyperbole.
Don't
string too many prepositional phrases together, unless you are walking
through
the valley of the shadow of death.
"Avoid
overuse of 'quotation "marks".' "
If
you reread your work, you will find on rereading that a great deal of
repetition
can be avoided by rereading and editing.
Eschew
dialect, irregardless.
Don't
overuse exclamation marks! ! !
Write
all adverbial forms correct.
Writing
carefully, dangling participles must be avoided.
Avoid
colloquial stuff.
Last
but not least, avoid cliches like the plague; seek viable alternatives.
- Published by Time books
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