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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Quick takeaways

The English use of 'it' as a dummy subject ensures proper sentence structure, contrasting with languages like Spanish that don't require it.

Historical grammar conflicts, such as duels over punctuation marks and costly errors, illustrate the serious implications of grammatical rules.

Deep dives

The Role of 'It' in English Sentences

The use of the word 'it' in English serves as a grammatical placeholder, often not referring to any specific noun. This 'dummy subject' appears in sentences like 'It is raining,' where 'it' does not signify anything concrete but maintains the required subject-verb structure essential for proper sentence formation. In contrast to languages like Spanish, where the verb itself conveys full meaning without needing an additional subject, English demands both a subject and a verb, which results in the use of 'it.' This characteristic can make understanding English particularly unique, as many languages do not have an equivalent for this kind of placeholder.

Intro

5min

The Power of Language: Verb Conjugations and Pronoun Usage

2min

Dueling Over Punctuation: A Dramatic Chapter in Grammar History

3min

Grammar in History: Scandals and Rivalries

5min

The High Cost of Grammar: Mistakes and Musical Tales

4min

1061. Ever wonder why we say "It's raining" even though "it" doesn't refer to anything? We explain the logic behind this quirky English rule. Then, we look at some of the most dramatic moments in grammar history, including a semicolon duel, a costly comma mistake, and a famous book with 5,000 typos.

The "dummy 'it'" segment is by Karen Lunde, a former Quick & Dirty Tips editor and digital pioneer who's been spinning words into gold since before cat videos ruled the internet. She created one of the first online writing workshops, and she's published thousands of articles on the art of writing. These days, she leads personal narrative writing retreats and helps writers find their voice. Visit her at ChanterelleStoryStudio.com.

"Ghost Town Mad" by Lex Friedman.

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