Maths Fors Schools. Mental_floss Blog » Debunking Grammar Myths. This week we're joined by a special guest blogger. Patricia T. O'Conner, a former editor at The New York Times Book Review, is the author of the national best-seller Woe Is I: The Grammarphobe's Guide to Better English in Plain English, as well as other books about language. She is a regular monthly guest on public radio station WNYC in New York. Learn more at her website, grammarphobia.com. When I think about the rules of grammar I sometimes recall the story—and it's a true one—about a lecture given in the 1950s by an eminent British philosopher of language. Don't we all sometimes feel like that voice from the back of the room?
English is not so much a human invention as it is a force of nature, one that endures and flourishes despite our best attempts to ruin it. So when you think about the rules of grammar, try to think like that guy in the back of the room, and never be afraid to challenge what seems silly or useless. Myth #1: Don't Split an Infinitive. This is nonesense. The NEA Foundation // Books Across America. The NEA Foundation // Apply for NEA Foundation Grants. TE recognized « Teach Effectively! Education Week American Education News Site of Record. Education Week Teacher Digital Directions Industry & Innovation TopSchoolJobs Shop Annual Reports Books Back Issues Edweek Spotlights Subscriptions Site Licenses Reprints Advertise Recruitment Advertising Display Advertising White Papers Professional Development Directory Advanced Search September 26, 2012 Login | Register | Subscribe Sign Up for FREE E-Newsletters Current Issue Topics Assessment and Testing Budget and Finance Bullying Campaign 2012 Charter Schools Common Standards Curriculum and Instruction E-Learning English-Language Learners Federal Policy High Schools Law and Courts Leadership and Management No Child Left Behind Professional Development Research Special Education State News by State Teaching Profession Technology Unions See All Topics Blogs Reports & Data Quality Counts Diplomas Count Technology Counts Special Reporting Series State Highlights Reports EdCounts Database EdWeek Maps EPE Research Center ERS Practical Tools for District Transformation Events PD Webinars Webinars Chats Live Events Live Events Videos Calendar Forums.