Common English usage misconceptions: Difference between revisions

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* '''Misconception:''' ''[[Conjunction (grammar)|Conjunctions]] such as "and" or "but" must not begin a sentence.''

Those who impose this rule on themselves are following a modern English "rule" that was not used historically. Jeremy Butterfield described this perceived prohibition as one of "the folk commandments of English usage".<ref>[[#But08|Butterfield 2008]]. p. 136.</ref> The ''Chicago Manual of Style'' says: <blockquote>There is a widespread belief—one with no historical or grammatical foundation—that it is an error to begin a sentence with a conjunction such as '"and'", '"but'", or '"so'". In fact, a substantial percentage (often as many as 10 percent) of the sentences in first-rate writing begin with conjunctions. It has been so for centuries, and even the most conservative grammarians have followed this practice.<ref>[[#Uni10|University of Chicago Press 2010]]. p. 257.</ref>{{Ref label|C|c|none}}</blockquote>

Regarding the word "and", ''[[Fowler's Modern English Usage]]'' states, "There is a persistent belief that it is improper to begin a sentence with ''And'', but this prohibition has been cheerfully ignored by standard authors from Anglo-Saxon times onwards."<ref>[[#Bur96|Burchfield 1996]]. p. 52.</ref> ''[[Garner's Modern American Usage]]'' adds, "It is rank superstition that this coordinating conjunction <!-- meaning the word "and" --> cannot properly begin a sentence."<ref>[[#Gar03|Garner 2003]]. p. 44.</ref> The word "but" suffers from similar misconceptions. [[Bryan A. Garner|Garner]] says, "It is a gross canard that beginning a sentence with ''but'' is stylistically slipshod. In fact, doing so is highly desirable in any number of contexts, as many style books have said (many correctly pointing out that ''but'' is more effective than ''however'' at the beginning of a sentence)".<ref>[[#Gar03|Garner 2003]]. p. 118.</ref> ''[[Fowler's]]'' echoes this sentiment: "The widespread public belief that ''But'' should not be used at the beginning of a sentence seems to be unshakeable. Yet it has no foundation."<ref>[[#Bur96|Burchfield 1996]]. p. 121.</ref>

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* '''Misconception:''' ''The [[English passive voice|passive voice]] is incorrect.''

It is a misconception that the passive voice is always incorrect in English.<ref>[[#Wal04|Walsh 2004]]. pp. 61, 68–69.</ref> and someSome "writing tutors" believe that the passive voice is to be avoided in all cases.,<ref>[[#Pul09|Pullum 2009]].</ref> However,but "there are legitimate uses for the passive voice,", says Paul Brians.<ref name="Brians 2009. p. 169">[[#Bri09|Brians 2009]]. p. 169.</ref> [[Mignon Fogarty]] also points out that "passive sentences aren't incorrect,"<ref>[[#Fog10a|Fogarty 2010]]. "Active Voice Versus Passive Voice."</ref> and "If you don't know who is responsible for an action, passive voice can be the best choice.".<ref>[[#Fog10a|Fogarty 2010]]. "Active Voice Versus Passive Voice."</ref>{{Ref label|D|d|none}} When the active or passive voice can be used without much awkwardness, there are [[disputes in English grammar#Examples|differing opinions]] about which is preferable. [[Bryan A. Garner]] notes, "Many writers talk about passive voice without knowing exactly what it is. In fact, many think that any BE-VERB signals passive voice."<ref>[[#Gar03|Garner 2003]]. p. 592.</ref>

* '''Misconception:''' ''[[Litotes]]'' ''or [[double negation]] (sometimes called "[[Double negative|double negatives]]") are always incorrect.''

Some style guides use the term [[double negative]] to refer exclusively to the [[nonstandard dialect|nonstandard]] use of reinforcing negations (negative concord), e.g., using "I don't know nothing" to mean "I know nothing.". However,But the term "double negative" can sometimes refer to the standard English constructions called [[litotes]] or nested negatives, e.g., using "He is not unhealthy" to mean "He is healthy.". In some cases, nested negation is used to convey nuance, uncertainty, or the possibility of [[Three-valued logic|a third option]] other than a statement or its negation. For example, an author may write "I'm not unconvinced by his argument" to imply they find an argument persuasive, but not certaindefinitive.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/double-negative|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130627233213/http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/double-negative|url-status = dead|archive-date = June 27, 2013|website = Lexico|publisher = Oxford|title = double negative}}</ref>.

Some writers suggest avoiding nested negatives as a [[rule of thumb]] for clear and concise writing.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2011-02-16 |title=Politics and the English Language {{!}} The Orwell Foundation |url=https://www.orwellfoundation.com/the-orwell-foundation/orwell/essays-and-other-works/politics-and-the-english-language/ |access-date=2023-07-29 |website=www.orwellfoundation.com |language=en-GB}}</ref>. Overuse of nested negatives can result in sentences that are difficult to parse, as in the sentence "I am not sure whether it is not true to say that the Milton who once seemed not unlike a seventeenth-century Shelley had not become[...]"

==Usage==