Question 1

Semicolons (;)

Accepted Answer

function as a stronger boundary than a comma but a weaker boundary than a period. They are used exclusively to connect two closely related independent clauses without a conjunction, as in: "The software launch was a success; first-day sales exceeded $1.2 million." Colons (:) act as a drumroll, introducing a list, a quotation, or an amplification of the preceding independent clause. The strict rule for colons is that the text preceding them must be a complete sentence. "The required items are: a laptop, a mouse, and a charger" is incorrect; it should be "You must bring three items: a laptop, a mouse, and a charger." Em-dashes (—), which are the width of the letter 'm', are highly versatile marks used to indicate a sudden break in thought, an interruption, or to add dramatic emphasis to a parenthetical statement. Apostrophes (') serve two distinct grammatical functions: indicating possession ("The CEO's office") and marking the omission of letters in contractions ("Don't" for "Do not"). A catastrophic error is using an apostrophe to form a simple plural, such as writing "The API's are failing" instead of the correct "The APIs are failing."

Question 2

Is the Oxford comma mandatory?

Accepted Answer

The necessity of the Oxford comma (the serial comma placed immediately before the coordinating conjunction in a list of three or more items) depends entirely on the style guide you are following. The Chicago Manual of Style, APA, and MLA require it, arguing that it prevents ambiguity in complex lists. The AP Stylebook omits it to save space, unless omitting it changes the meaning of the sentence. Consider the famous ambiguous dedication: "To my parents, Ayn Rand and God." Without the Oxford comma, it implies the parents are Ayn Rand and God; adding the comma ("To my parents, Ayn Rand, and God") clears the confusion. When not bound by AP style, experts universally recommend using it to ensure maximum clarity.

Question 3

Can I start a sentence with a conjunction like "And" or "But"?

Accepted Answer

Yes, you absolutely can. The rule that you cannot start a sentence with a coordinating conjunction is a prescriptive myth often taught to elementary school children to prevent them from writing endless strings of fragmented thoughts. In professional, academic, and literary writing, beginning a sentence with "And," "But," "So," or "Yet" is a highly effective stylistic technique. It creates a smooth, impactful transition from the previous sentence and adds rhetorical punch. However, it should be used judiciously; overusing conjunctions at the start of sentences can make your writing feel choppy or overly informal.

Question 4

What is the subjunctive mood and when is it used?

Accepted Answer

The subjunctive mood is a grammatical structure used to explore hypothetical situations, express wishes, or state demands that are contrary to current reality. In modern English, it most frequently appears in "if" clauses expressing a hypothetical. For example, the correct phrasing is, "If I were the CEO, I would change the policy," not "If I was the CEO." Even though "I" is singular, the subjunctive mood demands the plural verb "were" to signal that the statement is a hypothetical fantasy, not a factual historical statement. It is also used in demand clauses with the base form of the verb, such as, "The judge mandated that he surrender his passport" (not "surrenders").

Question 5

How do I know whether to use "who" or "whom"?

Accepted Answer

The distinction between "who" and "whom" is a matter of grammatical case. "Who" is a subjective pronoun, meaning it is performing the action in the clause (like he, she, or they). "Whom" is an objective pronoun, meaning it is receiving the action or is the object of a preposition (like him, her, or them). The simplest expert trick to determine which to use is the "he/him" substitution test. If you can substitute "he" into the sentence and it makes sense, use "who." If you can substitute "him," use "whom." For example, in the question "With [who/whom] are you going?", you would answer "I am going with him," therefore the correct word is "whom."

Question 6

What is the difference between "which" and "that"?

Accepted Answer

The difference lies in whether the clause you are introducing is restrictive or non-restrictive. "That" is used for restrictive clauses—information essential to the meaning of the sentence. "The car that is parked outside is mine." (Tells us exactly which car we are talking about; no commas are used). "Which" is used for non-restrictive clauses—extra, disposable information that could be removed without changing the core meaning of the sentence. Non-restrictive clauses must be set off by commas. "The car, which has a flat tire, is mine." If you remove the "which" clause, the sentence "The car is mine" still functions perfectly.

Question 7

Is the "singular they" grammatically correct?

Accepted Answer

Yes, the singular "they" is grammatically correct and has been used in the English language since the 14th century (appearing in works by Chaucer and Shakespeare). It is used as a generic third-person singular pronoun when the gender of the subject is unknown, irrelevant, or when referring to a person who prefers non-binary pronouns. Instead of writing the clunky and exclusionary "Every employee must submit his or her timesheet," standard modern grammar dictates writing "Every employee must submit their timesheet." Major style guides, including the AP Stylebook and the Chicago Manual of Style, have officially endorsed the singular "they" as standard, correct English.

English Grammar Reference

Command Palette