for the grammar geeks

[cellio]

Today I learned that one of my favorite grammar/usage curmudgeons has a blog, which I've now syndicated: bill_walsh.

Bill Walsh is the author of Lapsing into a Comma, a sensible style guide with interspersed rants. Just my kind of thing! Also see Rules That Aren't, a response to some commonly-held "rules" like not splitting infinitives. (And hey, apparently he has a new book out. Must investigate.)

I don't agree with everything he says, of course, but he makes solid, often-entertaining, arguments for his points instead of just saying "thou shalt do X".

Comments

[nsingman.livejournal.com]

The primary reason I won't quibble too much with his "Rules That Aren't" is because he phrases many of them as absolutes (such as never splitting an infinitive). I still try to mostly avoid (heh, heh) doing this, but as with terminal prepositions, it's not really something I'm afraid of. :-)

Thanks for the pointer. I believe I shall start reading Mr. Walsh. Very few former NFL head coaches seem as well-versed in the finer points of the English language as he does. :-)

[gnomi.livejournal.com]

His other book, The Elephants of Style is very good, indeed. I have both Comma and Elephants on my reference shelf.