Frequently Asked Questions
If people understand what I'm saying, why does grammar really matter?
There's
no guarantee people understand what you're saying, even if your grammar
is perfect. But, you're less likely to be misunderstood if you follow
the rules. For example, if you write, "He likes chocolate better than
me," your reader has to guess whether he prefers chocolate--or you. As
good as chocolate is, do you really want to come in second place to an
inanimate bar of candy? You're better off writing, "He likes chocolate
better than I." That way, everyone knows you're perfectly delightful;
you just aren't a fan of chocolate.
The rules of grammar change. Why are you fighting the inevitable? 
We accept that language evolves. We like that. It keeps language interesting and
useful. That said, changing simple rules because some people are too lazy to
learn the difference between "me" and "I" is a terrible idea. We don't lower
doctors' standards because medicine is a complicated field. We wouldn't let a
car mechanic use the wrong bolt because he felt like resisting the influence of
The Man. Why lower standards for something as fundamental to the human
experience as language? Worse, if we lower our standards, we lose connection to
the history of our language. Think of the works of Shakespeare. Jane Austen.
Charles Dickens. If we let our language crumble so that we can no longer
understand these great works, then we will have lost something wonderful. It's
just not that hard to write "for" instead of "4." It's not hard to understand when
to use "me" and when to use "I." It just takes time, focused teaching, and
reading.
Hey, you use incomplete sentences in this Web site. What gives?
We like an occasional sentence fragment. It makes for punchy writing. No matter what Ms. Thigpen told you in third grade, it's fine to do on occasion. Really.
What makes you an expert on grammar?
I love language. I love reading about it and learning new things. I don't know everything there is to know about grammar, but I am happy to keep learning. I did major in English in college, and I also studied Ancient Greek and German. You can't do either without understanding how grammar works. I've also worked as a writer for 16 years.