We've finally
reached the third and last week about zombie rules. We have covered a lot of
ground over the last several weeks. So far, we have discussed why it is
perfectly grammatical to use starting conjunctions, ending prepositions, split
infinitives, and a passive voice. This week, we will be discussing two more
zombie rules that are not quite as black and white. These rules are about
contractions and using the word "that."
Everyone at some point has been told not
to use contractions in their writing. If we’re talking about "ain't"
I would probably agree. But contractions are not grammatically wrong. As I have
mentioned before, I enjoy dabbling in other languages. Contractions are a
universal construction in language. They are necessary for more than just a
shortcut in speech. Contractions aid the smooth flow of sentences and influence
the tone of a written piece. Read these next two sentences and compare how they
sound. We don't need it anymore. We do not need it anymore. Now, both are
correct and would be acceptable to use. The difference comes in how they sound.
The sound of "don't need" versus "do not need" is vast. The
former has the flow of natural speech and has a personal tone. The latter
example has a jarring sound and adds stiffness to the sentence not to mention
that it can place a greater emphasis on the “not.”
Don't misunderstand me here. I am not
saying that contractions should always be used. As with any grammatical
construction, there are certain appropriate uses for it. I only mean to point
out that they can create a smoother flow in a sentence and can give a different
tone. Contractions don't always informalize sentences either. For example,
there are contractions like "'tis" and "shan't" which add a
peculiarly classy or literary sound to a sentence.
Therefore, it is all about what one is
trying to say. Contractions are meant to be your friend; a tool to help you
better communicate your thoughts. In formal English, the occasional contraction
is acceptable if it doesn't disrupt the tone of your document. Informal English
benefits exponentially from contractions because of how they give a
conversational sound to written English. Moderation is important, but don't be
afraid to use contractions in your writing.
The final zombie rule we must cover is
using "that" in place of a "who." In English class,
students are taught that a "who" is a person and a "that"
is an object, animal, or idea. However, how many times have you referred to
someone as a "that" lately? You know, the coffeehouse person that
hands you your coffee every morning. In that example, the "that"
refers to the person who works at the coffeehouse. Is there a difference?
It turns out the answer is both yes and
no. The idea that "who" is for people and "that" is for
everything else is an oversimplification of a long-standing grammar rule.
Truthfully, "who" is reserved for people (most of the time),
"which" is reserved for inanimate objects, and "that" is
for both people and inanimate objects. Keeping this in mind, the argument over
"who" versus "that" becomes more about writing style and
preference.
Once we enter the world of writing
style, the differences become more apparent. Using "that" for a
person is not a problem in most instances, but it can sometimes have a
decidedly negative connotation[1]. A
writer needs to know exactly what he wants to convey and ascertain that his
words do so. On the other hand, "who" can sometimes refer to others
beyond people[2].
"Who" is often used to refer to animals, especially dogs and cats[3].
People think of their pets as companions and that is reflected in speech. The
best rule of thumb is to use "who" for people and either
"that" or "which" for everything else. However, you don't
have to worry about slipping because "that" is perfectly acceptable.
We have reached the end of our zombie
rule discussion. I hope everyone has learned a lot about writing and the beauty
of English. Researching for these posts has certainly taught me much about
grammar that I was not necessarily aware of. In the future, use the flexibility
of English to communicate better with people and share your ideas with the
world. These flexibilities make it easier for an author's voice and personality
to come through in his writing. So, go write to your heart’s content and don’t
let zombie rules crush your confidence as a writer!
[1] Mignon
Fogarty, 2006, “Who versus That,” Quick and Dirty Tips, Retrieved October
11, 2019, https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/education/grammar/who-versus-that?page=1.
[2] Ibid.
[3] Ibid.
No comments:
Post a Comment