Fumblerules
Encyclopedia
Fumblerules are humorous rule
s for writing
, collected from teachers of English grammar. A fumblerule contains an example contrary to the advice it gives, such as "don't use no double negatives", "eschew obfuscation
" and "never use a preposition to end a sentence
with", a form of self-reference
.
The science
editor
George L. Trigg published a list of such rules in 1979. Another list, from which this article takes its name, was compiled by William Safire
on Sunday, 4 November 1979, in his column "On Language" in the New York Times. Safire later authored a book titled A Lighthearted Guide to Grammar and Good Usage, which was reprinted in 2005 as How Not To Write: The Essential Misrules of Grammar. An overview of various 'self defeating sentences', including FumbleRules is also available
Rule
Rule, ruler, ruling usually refers to standards for activities. They may refer to:- Human activity :* Business rule, a rule pertaining to the structure or behavior internal to an organization* Game rules, rules that define how a game is played...
s for writing
Writing
Writing is the representation of language in a textual medium through the use of a set of signs or symbols . It is distinguished from illustration, such as cave drawing and painting, and non-symbolic preservation of language via non-textual media, such as magnetic tape audio.Writing most likely...
, collected from teachers of English grammar. A fumblerule contains an example contrary to the advice it gives, such as "don't use no double negatives", "eschew obfuscation
Obfuscation
Obfuscation is the hiding of intended meaning in communication, making communication confusing, wilfully ambiguous, and harder to interpret.- Background :Obfuscation may be used for many purposes...
" and "never use a preposition to end a sentence
Preposition stranding
Preposition stranding, sometimes called P-stranding, is the syntactic construction in which a preposition with an object occurs somewhere other than immediately adjacent to its object...
with", a form of self-reference
Self-reference
Self-reference occurs in natural or formal languages when a sentence or formula refers to itself. The reference may be expressed either directly—through some intermediate sentence or formula—or by means of some encoding...
.
The science
Science
Science is a systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe...
editor
Editing
Editing is the process of selecting and preparing written, visual, audible, and film media used to convey information through the processes of correction, condensation, organization, and other modifications performed with an intention of producing a correct, consistent, accurate, and complete...
George L. Trigg published a list of such rules in 1979. Another list, from which this article takes its name, was compiled by William Safire
William Safire
William Lewis Safire was an American author, columnist, journalist and presidential speechwriter....
on Sunday, 4 November 1979, in his column "On Language" in the New York Times. Safire later authored a book titled A Lighthearted Guide to Grammar and Good Usage, which was reprinted in 2005 as How Not To Write: The Essential Misrules of Grammar. An overview of various 'self defeating sentences', including FumbleRules is also available
Examples
- "Don't use no double negatives."
- "Eschew obfuscationObfuscationObfuscation is the hiding of intended meaning in communication, making communication confusing, wilfully ambiguous, and harder to interpret.- Background :Obfuscation may be used for many purposes...
." - "Never use a preposition to end a sentencePreposition strandingPreposition stranding, sometimes called P-stranding, is the syntactic construction in which a preposition with an object occurs somewhere other than immediately adjacent to its object...
with." - "Avoid clichés like the plague."
- "The passive voiceEnglish passive voiceThe passive voice is a grammatical construction in which the subject of a sentence or clause denotes the recipient of the action rather than the performer...
should never be employed." - "It is bad to carelessly split infinitives."