Fumblerules

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Fumblerules are humorous rules for writing that have been used by English Teachers for decades in order to teach the correct usage of English grammar to their students.^{[citation needed]}

Each rule contradicts the advice it gives, such as "don't use no double negatives" and "eschew obfuscation". A non-exhaustive list, from which this article takes its name, was compiled by William Safire on Sunday, 4th November, 1979 [1], in his column in the New York Times, and at least one similar list was published earlier by science editor George L. Trigg. Safire later authored a separate book on Fumblerules, entitled Fumblerules: A Lighthearted Guide to Grammar and Good Usage. The book is sadly no longer in print. Fumblerules have become a form of xeroxlore.

[edit] See also

• List of Fumblerules

[edit] External links

• Fumblerules entry on the the alt.usage.english FAQ
• alt.usage.english.org's Humorous Rules for Writing