English grammar is confusing enough as it is – what makes it doubly confounding is that it is slowly but continually changing. This means that some of the strict rules you memorized so painfully at school may no longer be completely valid.
Following such outmoded principles, you may think you are speaking ‘perfect’ English, and instead you may sound stuffy and pedantic.
The problem boils down to this: if grammatical usage is gradually becoming more liberal, where does educated, unaffected, informal speech end? And where does illiterate, ungrammatical speech begin?
The following notes on current trends in modern usage are intended to help you come to a decision about certain controversial expressions. As you read each sentence, pay particular attention to the italicized word or words. Does the usage square with your own language patterns? Would you be willing to phrase your thoughts in such terms?
For Scientific english editing and Medical Writing Services visit www.manuscriptedit.com
