Clarifying caveats for 5 common grammar decrees

Well-meaning English teachers reinforce the “correct” way to write, and they eagerly point out mistakes. Most of what you learned is probably still valid, but there’s probably more wiggle room than you were led to believe.

Here are six common debates you may encounter as you create marketing content:

1. Ending a sentence with a preposition

The admonition against ending a sentence with a preposition dates back a few centuries, but the rule simply hasn’t aged well. The alternative to the terminal preposition is often an awkward or wordy sentence such as “He gave me something in which to believe.”

The verdict: Although sometimes the sentence-ending preposition is extraneous, in many cases, it’s fine to use. You should avoid it in formal writing, however.

2. The singular ‘they’