Grammar Girl Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing The mystery of ‘it’ in English. The most dramatic moments in grammar history. Ghost Town Mad, the song
Mar 4, 2025
Ever wondered why we say "It's raining"? Dive into the quirky logic behind the use of the word 'it' as a placeholder in English. Discover a dramatic punctuation duel from 1837 that pitted two law professors against one another, highlighting the lengths people will go for grammar. You'll be amused by a costly grammar mistake that had significant financial repercussions. Plus, enjoy a humorous musical twist with a listener's family slang – a delightful peek into how we communicate within families!
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The Dummy 'It'
- The "dummy 'it'" acts as a placeholder subject in sentences like "It's raining."
- English requires a subject and verb, unlike some languages where verb conjugation conveys the same information.
Semicolon Duel
- In 1837, two law professors in Paris dueled with swords over whether a passage should have a semicolon or a colon.
- The semicolon-preferring professor was wounded, highlighting the extreme lengths to which grammar debates can go.
Dexter's Punctuation
- Timothy Dexter's autobiography, "A Pickle for the Knowing Ones," was published with no punctuation.
- After reader complaints, he added an appendix of punctuation marks for readers to add as they pleased.
