When a verb is the subject of a sentence, it needs to be in the -ing form. Often, the subject is the first word in a sentence or clause. Examples: Walking up this hill is so tiring. My body will ache ...

Gerunds are the -ing form of a verb, and infinitives are the to + base form. These words can be confusing; they combine the meaning of a verb with the grammar of a noun. My father asked me to phone ...

When I started working at a new company, I was disappointed to learn that an “enterprise” account had absolutely nothing to do with spaceships. Instead, enterprise accounts are the big fish your team ...

For those who boldly violate the Prime Directive by trying to enrich the general public’s understanding of English grammar and thus change the planetary culture, each tiny triumph is something to ...

I have on occasion split the infinitive and one should never do that. Yet it’s hard to remember what is so bad about splitting infinitives, except that it offends those people who had their grammar ...

My day was as empty as a human resources manager’s imagination, so I was heading for a pint or two of Smithwick’s with my barfly associates, the Afternoon Travelers, when an anomaly loomed on the ...

Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter John Rentoul: Well, this is a bit awkward. Having read your book, I agree with much of it. A lot of grammar pedantry is mere ...

Lexicon Valley has moved! Find new episodes here. Photo illustration by Lisa Larson-Walker. Image via Wikimedia Commons. Listen to Lexicon Valley Episode No. 56: And Infinitum: Subscribe in iTunes ∙ ...

If you want to help another person — say, your employee — with his writing, there are several approaches you could take. You might look at the big picture: How well are the ideas organized and ...

Get your news from a source that’s not owned and controlled by oligarchs. Sign up for the free Mother Jones Daily. Leave it to a scientist to finally explain how to kill off bad writing. In his new ...