WELCOME TO THE GRAMMAR TABLE

What are some grammar hangups people have? People seem to have a “me” aversion, but “me” is often right. And “whom” may sound sophisticated, but using it where it doesn’t belong is like wearing a tuxedo to a beach barbecue.

What question have you most often received? “What are your thoughts on the Oxford comma?” In case that term is unfamiliar, the comma before the “and” in this next sentence is an example of one: Janice has written quirky essays about punctuation, participles, and prepositions. I’ve gone through multiple Oxford comma phases in my life. You can do it either way. The Associated Press Stylebook, which governs a lot of what you see in newspapers, doesn’t advocate using it unless it’s necessary for clarity.

What is the most frequent issue people struggle with?

Adults are often hobbled by halfremembered grammar superstitions from their childhood. Yes, you can begin a sentence with “because,” and yes, you can end a sentence with a preposition. Here’s a perfectly fine sentence that does both: Because you stole my short-story idea, I am uninviting you to that writing workshop I’ve been telling you about.

Do you have a grammar pet peeve? Yes, I would like people to stop saying that “that” can never be used for people. Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta sang “You’re the One That I Want,” not “You’re the One Whom I Want.” If “that” is good enough for Grease, it’s good enough for me. Even though I usually use “who” or “whom” to refer to people, there are times “that” works better.