Help regarding grammar
Cullen
Experienced MentorRegistered Posts: 592
I believe it is bad grammar to commence a sentence with
"As you know......"
Am I mistaken? Is this acceptable? I would appreciate some advice.
"As you know......"
Am I mistaken? Is this acceptable? I would appreciate some advice.
0
Comments
Claudia
As you know, as you know can sound a bit patronising. Probably best to avoid unless you work in the debt collection section of a council tax department.
Oxford Guide to Plain English
Second Edition
Martin Cutts
Price: £5.99 (Paperback)
ISBN-13: 978-0-19-923345-8
Publication date: 23 August 2007
Others may not agree but there are occasions where I can see you might legitimately wish to start a sentence with this, such as reinforcing a point previously made to someone, possibly verbally. I'd probably phrase it morelike "As you are already aware..."
While spelling will always remain important, I get peed off with the "grammar police" who spend so much time correcting others over grey areas where it can be hard to know what's grammatically right and what's wrong. We're also told that you can't start sentences with 'But' and 'And' but many do and who am I to correct them?
I heard someone say on the radio a while ago that 3 out of 5 English words are now spelt incorrectly. Since our language is constantly evolving with variations of new words replacing the old ones, we have to accept that there are sometimes better, more logical ways to spell certain words. Anyone ever read Chaucer? What a pain in the a**e to read and if we were to never spell words in alternative ways, we'd still be stuck speaking and writing dark age English!
So my own take is that if you say it, then you can write it - as long as you spell it correctly in the current context of the time!
I once worked in an 'academic' environment and whenever I sent out a memo from the accounts department I just sat and waited for the comments.
My reply would always be the same... "Did you understand what I was trying to say?"
Poodle
I dont mind making my own grammatical errors but when my boss sticks his oar in, I feel that the letter never sounds right somehow. He frequently does start his sentences with And and But, I did try to argue with him about it but he insisted so I issued the letter in his name not mine.
I know what Poodle went through.Everytime I send out an email , letter or memo to the staff, if anyone can find fault or any reason to misinterpret the meaning I get a backlash. I think perhaps I should just boldy go, splitting infinitives. And starting sentences with conjunctions, carelessly confusing syntax. I can be such a rebel.
I grudgingly admit that starting a sentence with 'But' or 'And' is okay in this age of lazy speak and writing, but these words were never intended to start a sentence.
It also suggests that the active voice is favoured.
Oh heck, this is harder than I thought.
Maybe not, but English is a constantly evolving language and these two words are very commonly used in everyday speech to begin sentences with. And if you can say it - then as far as I'm concerned - you can write it!
Spelling is always more important than grammar anyway; at least with spelling there are commonly accepted right and wrong ways of forming words whereas forming complex sentences correctly is often just a matter of opinion. Or should it be correctly forming complex sentences?!
This book is brilliant, it has cleared up quite a few points that I have struggled over. Thanks Stan!
In regards to grammar and style, does anyone know of links to websites containing advice on grammar and style of writing/speaking?
thanks for your help
Hmmm.
I've had clients' write to me like that! :laugh:
Though, as professionals, it should be absolutely forbidden!!!
Regards
Dean
I can really recommend the book Stan advised me to buy.
Here's to a well constructed sentence!