Outdated Grammar Rules You Can Probably Ignore Now

I’m an English teacher, so I’m a stickler for good grammar. But I have to admit that some grammar rules are now becoming outdated.

Language never stands still and is always changing to reflect the way we prefer to communicate. New words arrive all the time, and even certain slang expressions can become part of a new normal.

Social change is one factor that demands more inclusive language. The singular they is a prime example of filling the need for gender-neutral pronouns.

Technology is another driving factor. Texting, email, and social media encourage conciseness and informality, influencing how we write in various contexts.

Why grammar rules become outdated

Grammar evolves and changes with time, like everything else in our lives.

What we believed was correct decades ago, or even only a few years ago, perhaps isn’t reflective of how we communicate today.

So, why is grammar changing?

It’s because language is alive and changing almost every day to adapt to new realities in our lives and how we communicate.

Digital communication is one of the driving factors. It encourages more informal writing styles and adapts rapidly to cultural shifts.

Because of this, some grammar rules have become somewhat outdated, if not obsolete.

This is not to say that good grammar is out the window or that poor grammar is acceptable.

Good grammar is always good writing.

However, there is definitely a move away from some of the strict, old-fashioned grammar rules that can inhibit modern-day communication.

Here’s my take on some grammar rules you can now possibly disregard or modify to suit your writing.

1. Never split the infinitive

This rule started to disappear in the ‘60s when Star Trek announced it was to boldly go where no one has gone before.

Since then, splitting the infinitive has become commonplace.

If you want to say, I need to quickly finish this report before noon, that’s fine now.

Sure, you could say, I need to finish this report quickly before noon.

But it doesn’t place the emphasis on the verb, it’s on the object.

So feel free to happily split the infinitive to modify or intensify a verb.

2. None is singular

The old rule for subject-verb agreement with none was that none meant not one, so it was always singular.

But this is no longer the case as none can also mean not any.

So, it can now be singular or plural, depending on the context.

None of the windows was broken, sounds wrong now, even though it is grammatically correct.

It’s far more logical to say, none of the windows were broken.

The same goes for; none of my friends is married. None of my friends are married, sounds much more appropriate.

3. Collective nouns are always singular

This rule is debatable. US English is still quite strict about its use, but in other varieties of English, you often see the plural form.

For example, it’s not uncommon in British English to read that Apple are losing iPhone market share.

It all depends now on context and accepted usage.

Yes, you would almost always say, my team is winning.

But equally, you could say, my team are celebrating with the coaches and their families.

Sure, if the focus is on a single unit, it’s still singular.

However, if the focus is on members or individual elements within a collective unit, you can often use a plural verb.

4. Never end a sentence with a preposition

This rule was drilled into me when I was at school.

But times have changed so much since then, and when it sounds natural, you can certainly finish a sentence with a preposition.

Even Winston Churchill had a problem with it, a long time ago.

Consider this phrase. Who are you going to Italy with?

There is only one way to change this sentence so it doesn’t end with a preposition.

With whom are you going to Italy?

It is overly formal and simply doesn’t work in today’s English.

So, forget this rule ever existed.

5. They is always plural

This one is a rule where changes in society have rapidly changed grammar.

For a long time, using they to represent a singular (particularly a person) was a major grammar fault.

But, in fact, singular they or their has been around for centuries.

Oh, look, somebody forgot their jacket.

The only way to follow the old rule would be to change this sentence to read, Oh look, somebody forgot his or her jacket.

Today, using they as a singular is most often to accommodate inclusive language so that the pronoun is gender-neutral.

6. Always use fewer with countable nouns

While it’s still a good idea, there are times when less will do.

We all know about the “8 items or less checkouts” in supermarkets.

No matter that it’s technically incorrect, it’s been in such everyday use for years now that no one would think to say, “the 8 items or fewer checkout.”

Okay, it pays to know the rule that less is for uncountable nouns and fewer for countable.

But if you are happy saying that you noticed less cars on the road this morning, then don’t worry too much.

Use what you think sounds natural.

7. Never use contractions in formal writing

I spent years drumming this rule into my students’ heads, telling them to use contractions only when writing an informal text.

But times have changed, and this is no longer a hard and fast rule.

The vocabulary choices and grammar structures of formal writing still apply. However, contractions and even acronyms are now quite acceptable, but in moderation.

These two sentences highlight the relaxation of the rule.

Regretfully, the Chief Executive Officer informed the committee that he was not able to attend the hearing. (Strict formal)

Regretfully, the CEO informed the committee that he wasn’t able to attend the hearing. (Relaxed formal)

8. Avoid sentence fragments

Sentence fragments used to be a no-no, but now you see them everywhere in advertising, social media, news articles, and literature.

We had a terrific time. In spite of the weather.

To correct this, it should probably read: In spite of the weather, we had a terrific time.

But when used intentionally, sentence fragments can add extra emphasis to a phrase.

In the example above, using a sentence fragment adds more emphasis on having a terrific time rather than the weather.

However, this is one rule where it’s probably better to know the rule before you break it.

9. Don’t start a sentence with a conjunction

Using conjunctions like but, and, so, or for at the beginning of a sentence used to be considered poor writing.

However, starting sentences with conjunctions often adds reason or connectivity to your writing.

So, if it feels right, go ahead and start your sentence with any of the FANBOYS. (For, And, Nor. But, Or, Yet, So.)

10. Use whom to refer to the object of a verb

Well, this rule is so far out of date that it’s hardly worth mentioning.

It’s always so overly stuffy and formal, and it’s a headache to try and remember the rules.

With whom did you go to the cinema? Yes, it’s 100% correct.

But this is far better. Who did you go to the cinema with?

Forget all about the word whom, unless you are writing a reference for an employee addressed to: To whom it may concern.

Summary

Good sentence structure, grammar, and avoiding obvious errors will always make your writing easier to understand and more professional.

But language is changing all the time, and grammar rules evolve along with it.

Yes, having sound grammar knowledge is vital for writers. But obsessing over outdated grammar rules can sometimes be a waste of time and energy.

So, don’t let some of these old rules hold back your creativity and natural writing voice.

Related Reading: 7 Quick Rules For Verb Agreement With Group Nouns