Grammar Girl Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing

Why some sentences have double subjects. The story behind the old F-like letter S. Schwen schwen on dill.

May 21, 2024

Exploring the oddity of double subjects in sentences and the historical significance of the old F-like letter S. Delving into left dislocation in English sentences and the informality and usage of this technique. Uncovering the evolution of the medial S in English typography and sharing a nostalgic family phrase "Schwent Schwent on Dill".

16:49

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Quick takeaways

Left dislocation can enhance sentence clarity and informality but should be used sparingly in formal writing.

The historical medial S, resembling an F, created spelling challenges and vanished with the printing press's emergence.

Deep dives

Left Dislocation in English Sentences

Left dislocation in English sentences involves moving a noun phrase to the beginning of a sentence and replacing it with a pronoun later on for clarity and style. The podcast explains how this strategy can help introduce new information effectively and maintain a friendly tone, especially in informal writing or speech. While left dislocation can be useful for readability, it is recommended to limit its use in formal contexts to avoid language quirks.

Introduction

2min

Explaining Left Dislocation in Sentences and Avoiding Repetition of Nouns

2min

Exploring Left Dislocation in English Sentences

4min

Exploring the Informality and Usage of Left Dislocation in Writing

3min

The Evolution of the Medial S in English

6min

Schwint Schwint on Dill

4min

987. This week, we look at why people sometimes double their subjects, writing sentences such as "John, he bought a car," and when it's OK (and not OK) to do so. Plus, we talk about the medial S, a strange F-like letter that makes an S-sound and shows up in old documents. We look at how it came to be, its role in English typography, and what made it finally go away.

| Edited transcript with links: https://grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/left-dislocation/transcript

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