Prescriptive disputes: split infinitives, singular they, who/whom
What style guides fight about and what usage actually does: to boldly go, singular they, ending with prepositions, less/fewer
I know the canonical usage disputes, the current verdicts, and how to choose per audience.
Look at these examples. Can you spot the grammar pattern?
Our mission: to boldly go where no style guide has gone before.
Our mission: to boldly go where no style guide has gone before.
If a reader complains, ask them which rule they think was broken — and whom they learned it from.
If a reader complains, ask them which rule they think was broken — and whom they learned it from.
Pay attention to the highlighted parts. What do they have in common?
The live disputes and the modern verdicts:
| Dispute | Verdict today |
|---|---|
| split infinitive (to boldly go) | fine; split when rhythm/meaning needs it |
| singular they | standard for unknown/nonbinary reference: Everyone took their seat. |
| stranded preposition | natural: the team I work with |
| less/fewer | edited prose: fewer + countables; speech: less is common |
| whom decline | safe rule: use whom only after prepositions |
| none is/are | both grammatical; is = slightly formal |
C2 means knowing both the rule and the reality — and choosing per audience.
- Hypercorrection: avoiding all splits → unnatural adverb placement
- he or she everywhere → singular they reads smoother today
- *less cars in edited prose → fewer cars
Common Error Patterns
Rules over rhythm
Split/strand when natural; know your style guide
Our mission: to boldly go where no style guide has gone before.
Our mission: to boldly go where no style guide has gone before.
The most famous split infinitive, embraced.
If a reader complains, ask them which rule they think was broken — and whom they learned it from.
If a reader complains, ask them which rule they think was broken — and whom they learned it from.
singular they + final-position whom: both verdicts applied.
Practice in course
Apply this grammar in C2 course exercises