[Reblog] 50 Years of Stupid Grammar Advice

50 Years of Stupid Grammar Advice By Geoffrey K. PullumAPRIL 17, 2009

April 16 is the 50th anniversary of the publication of a little book that is loved and admired throughout American academe. Celebrations, readings, and toasts are being held, and a commemorative edition has been released.

I won’t be celebrating.

The Elements of Style does not deserve the enormous esteem in which it is held by American college graduates. Its advice ranges from limp platitudes to inconsistent nonsense. Its...