More rules from school you need to unlearn fast

Find English grammar overwhelming? You’re not alone. So if your teacher filled your head with grammar mythology and outdated rules – from the possessive ‘s’ to contractions – we’re here to clear up the confusion.

A while back, we brought you five English grammar rules to unlearn – and since then we’ve found a few more. So now it’s time to rid your English of the rest of those outdated (and sometimes absurd) rules your teacher taught you all those years ago.

1. There’s only one way to write the possessive form of a word ending in ‘s’
There are in fact two ways: add an apostrophe, or add an apostrophe + s. For example, you can write:

• Chris’ book is on the table, or
• Chris’s book is on the table

Both are correct. It’s a debatable style issue, so choose one and be consistent.

2. Never use contractions in writing
Many of us were taught that contractions (such as can’t, don’t, it’s and they’re) are for spoken English, not written. But if you want to connect with readers, you need to speak to them – and that means writing in a natural, easy style. If you don’t use contractions, your writing will have a clunky, old-fashioned feel.

3. Never use the same word twice in a sentence
Doing anything and everything to avoid using the same word twice in a sentence can make your writing sound like a thesaurus. Variety for the sake of variety is confusing, so rather than lose your readers, feel free to use the same word twice in a sentence if you can't find a better word.

4. Never use a double negative
Never say never. Double negatives can actually come in handy. They’re perfect for when you need to wiggle your way around a touchy subject, for example, "I wouldn’t say I don’t like your cooking." Just don’t overdo it – you might have readers scratching their heads if you declare, "We didn’t do nothing."

5. Data is a plural noun that always takes a plural verb
While it’s true that data is plural (the singular in Latin is datum), it’s also true that Latin is a dead language – and English isn’t. Many plural Latin and Greek nouns (such as agenda and opera, and probably media in a few years) have become singular nouns in modern English. So use your singular verb without regret and let the ancient Romans have their datum.

Mystery solved
Is there a grammar myth that’s hotly debated in your department? Send us your question, and maybe we’ll use it in an upcoming issue of WordSpin.