Syntax

Would a coalition of companies and their lawyer decide to sue? Or would that be “decides.” Basic Subject-Verb Agreement Rules: Singular Subjects: Singular subjects take singular verbs: “The dog barks at the mailman.” Plural Subjects: Plural subjects take plural verbs: “The dogs bark at the mailman.” Compound Subjects: Connected with

Would you refer to a corporation that had abdicated its duties to the public? Or would this be a company which abdicated their duties? Relative Pronouns: Who: Use “who” when referring to a PERSON: “She was an individual who advocated vociferously for free speech.” That/Which: Use “that” or “which” when

Dangling modifiers aren’t just a grammar faux pas; they’re loose threads that can unravel the meaning of your sentence. Review the tips below to ensure that misplaced modifiers don’t cloud the meaning of your sentence with misplaced modifiers! Dangling Modifier: What Is a Dangling Modifier? A dangling modifier occurs when (1)

Split Infinitive: What Is a Split Infinitive? A split infinitive involves placing an adverb or other word/phrase between the word “to” and an infinitive verb (e.g. “go”): “to boldly go”. Historically, there was a rule against splitting infinitives. But the reasons for such a rule are antiquated and have no

Can you actively identify the difference between an active or passive sentence construction? Or would you passively sit by if asked to do so? Active Voice: Active Voice Defined: The subject of the sentence performs the action (verb). Typical Sentence Construction: An active sentence will usually follow a subject +

Which “which” vs. “that” rules make you wish that grammar evaporated? Do “which” hunts sometimes feel like witch hunts?  Trick: Imagine the noun (clauses) as a pie. Is the writer talking about the whole pie (which) or just slices of that pie (that)? That: Rule/Explanation: Think of a that clause as

Was Jones a case where the plaintiff was found not guilty by reason of insanity? Or would in which be clearer? Where: Where should be used to refer to a specific location or place, or to refer to an issue in which the location matters (e.g., jurisdiction): “The jurisdiction where

Who knows who’s the who’s who these days? And whose job is it to keep up with such matters? While we’re unsure of the answer to either of those questions, we do know “who” is on first. Who/Whom: Who: Who is a subject pronoun used to refer to the subject of

Similar to improper comma placements, improper capitalization plagues today’s legal writing. Here are six of the most common capitalization crimes to avoid! (1) Titles and Headings: Rule: Avoid ALL CAPS unless court rules require them. Instead, capitalize every word unless it’s (1) a preposition that has fewer than five letters (of,